The Supreme Court has scheduled the Manipur violence case for August 7 and directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur to appear before the court on that day. The court expressed concern over the “absolute breakdown of law and order and machinery of the State.”
A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud instructed the State government to provide a statement detailing various dates, including the date of occurrence, registration of zero FIR, registration of regular FIR, recording of witness statements, recording of statements under section 164 CrPC, and the date of arrests made.
The court criticized the lethargic investigation and the delay in making arrests, which created the impression of a complete breakdown of law and order. The court ruled out entrusting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the investigation of all 6,500 FIRs and also found the State Police unsuitable for the task.
The court demanded a mechanism to bifurcate the FIRs, prioritizing serious offences like bodily harm, destruction of property, attacks on religious places, home invasions, murders, and rapes for fast-track investigation.
The Solicitor General informed the court that 250 arrests had been made by the Manipur police, and 12,000 preventive measures were taken. The court raised concerns about the delay in registering FIRs, citing an incident where an FIR was filed two months after the occurrence. It questioned the DGP’s actions and the sensitivity of police officers towards sexual violence reported by women and children.
The case pertains to victims who were paraded naked during ethnic violence in Manipur since May. The Supreme Court is closely examining the matter to address the serious issues of law and order in the state.
