The Supreme Court has asked the State of Manipur on Monday to submit an updated status report about the present position of the violent clashes that started between communities this March.
The state was directed by the court to apprised them regarding rehabilitation camps, recovery of arms and law and order.
The matter will be next considered next Monday.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Misra had two petitions for consideration.
The first petition was filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi that sought protection of the Kuki tribe by the Indian Army while the second petition was filed by Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly,who challenged the direction of the Manipur High Court for considering the inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.
It may be noted that the issue related to ST status for Meitei triggered the riots in the state.
Dr.Colin Gonsalves,who had earlier appeared for the Manipur Tribal Forum, submitted that the situation in Manipur has worsened.
The Solicitor General of India, however stated there was an improvement in the situation after the deployment of the armed forces and setting up of relief camps.
SGI said that the curfew has been reduced by many hours indicating improvements.
Gonslaves however asserted that the situation has escalated even after the assurances was given by the State on the last occasion.
He added that while there were twenty killings as on the last date of hearing, the numbers have gone up to 110 today, the senior lawyer added.
The lawyer was alleged that several militant group leaders are openly giving calls for annihilation of Kukis.
He said that one leader came on an interview hosted by Karan Thapar and gave open threats against Kukis. Though there were open calls of violence, no police action has been taken against them. Gonsalves alleged that these militant groups are “state sponsored”.
“As long as these armed groups are not disbanded and allowed to go and kill, there will be an escalation of violence. Last night, 3 tribals killed and 1 beheaded, first beheading of tribals. These are the Meities, they are the dominant group.
Gonsalves stated that he has given a list of all the hundreds of Kukis who have been killed village wise. The Kukis are not attacking. The Kukis are in the villages defending. The Meities are defending. The armed groups are crossing the lines.
Once they cross the line, the women gather in large numbers and stop the army. The army has released two press statements that they are not allowed to do their duty and protect the people”,
Another counsel, appearing for the International Meities Organization, said that there should be an investigation into the source of assault weapons and the militant groups behind the violence.
“The suspicion is that the militants have come out of the shelters and are fighting, otherwise how will you explain the assault weapons. There should be a headcount of the militants. Union of India should look into this aspect”, the counsel said.
The Court asked the SG to take specific instructions on this aspect as well.BackgroundGangmei’s petition argues that directing the state government to recommend a tribe for the Scheduled Tribes List does not fall within the jurisdiction of the High Court.
The Manipur Tribal Forum’s IA, claiming that the Kukis are being ethnically cleansed by an armed communal organisation, prays for the protection of the tribe by the Indian Army since the State and its Police force are not trusted by the tribals.
Earlier, the Supreme Court vacation bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice MM Sundresh had declined to urgently list the IA filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum in the vacations and has listed the same for today, that is, July 3, 2023.
The bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud in May had called for a status report from the State regarding the security measures and relief camps.
A status report in the third week of May, stating :
- 62 companies of CaPF and 126 columns of army/Assam rifles have been deployed for assisting in the area domination, sanitisation, and maintenance of law and order situation in the state.
- A total of 318 relief camps have been opened where more than 47914 persons have been given relief.
- Specific security measures are being taken in every district and every locality as per the needs of this specific area. The district police, CAPF, CDO, and VDF are being deployed in various areas. The patrols are doing regular patrolling and round-the-clock security is being deployed in general and religious places by way of foot patrolling.
- Free passage of people from relief/safe locations to airport/native places is taking place and about 3124 people have been helped through flights.5. The state home department has issued instructions to DGP and all district SsP to register FIR’s of all reported cases irrespective of jurisdiction.