On Monday, the Supreme Court requested the Manipur government to provide a comprehensive report detailing the current situation amid the continuing ethnic clashes and unrest, which have led to loss of life and property. The Court sought an explanation of the on ground conditions in the affected areas. The bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud scheduled the next hearing for the case on July 10th.
Image source: PTI
In the brief hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing both the Centre and Manipur government, informed the Supreme Court that the situation in the state is showing signs of improvement, albeit at a gradual pace.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) requested an updated status report from the Solicitor General (SG) regarding the measures taken on the ground to address the situation in Manipur and the ethnic violence that continues to take place. The CJI emphasized the need for a detailed affidavit that covers various aspects, including rehabilitation camps, recovery of arms, and the state of law and order in the affected areas. The court ordered the state of Manipur to file the updated status report by the following Monday.
Further, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta provided the court with details about the deployments made to restore peace in Manipur which included the presence of personnel from Manipur Rifles Commandos, 114 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and 184 columns of the Army. Additionally, he informed that there were 355 relief camps set up to provide assistance to those affected by the clashes.
Mehta further added that the curfew had been relaxed and reduced to only five hours a day, which he considered a sign of improvement in the situation. He also urged the counsel representing some Kuki outfits to avoid adding any communal angle to the situation and emphasized the importance of treating all human beings involved with empathy and sensitivity.
3 village volunteers killed in fresh violence reportedÂ
Atleast 3 village volunteers are reported to have lost their lives in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen while guarding the area from a makeshift bunker in Khoijumantabi village. Five others were injured during the shootout, with a couple of them in serious condition, requiring transfer to a hospital in Imphal.
Recent development also report that the umbrella Kuki organizations– United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) have decided to withdraw roadblocks in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on National Highway 2. This decision came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to them to do so to curb the violence and turmoil.
The Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has not yet officially withdrawn their roadblock, which they announced two months ago.
As of now, the NH-2, which runs from Imphal to Dimapur, has been intermittently blocked by Kuki organizations since the outbreak of violence in Manipur on May 3. However, in late May it was temporarily opened following Amit Shah’s visit in the state.
The Manipur government provided assurances to the Supreme Court on May 8 that they would address concerns related to the ongoing violence and take proactive remedial measures. In response, the Court called for proper arrangements to be made in relief camps and emphasized the importance of taking necessary precautions to rehabilitate displaced individuals and safeguard places of religious worship that might be affected by the violence.
Following this, the Union Home Ministry formed a committee led by former Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajay Lamba to investigate the matter and delve into the situation.
However, the Manipur Tribal Forum expressed dissatisfaction with this arrangement, stating that it was unacceptable as it was made without consulting the tribal groups who are the actual victims of the violence.
