Guwahati, 10 December (MTNews): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against nine accused individuals in connection with the abduction and murder of a 55-year-old Naga woman in Manipur. The incident occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing ethnic conflict between the dominant valley-based Meitei people and the hills-based Scheduled Tribe Kuki-Zo community.
The chargesheet was submitted before the Special CBI court in Guwahati, following directives from the Supreme Court to relocate the trial. While the CBI has refrained from disclosing specific charges against the accused, officials confirmed that further investigations are underway.
The victim, Lucy Marim Maring, hailing from one of the Naga tribes, was abducted on July 15 by a Meitei mob in the Imphal Valley district. Suffering from mental illness, she was eventually shot and killed, with the incident captured in a viral video on social media. The Manipur Police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, abduction, and rioting, along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.
A day after the incident, the Manipur Police announced the arrest of nine individuals, including five women, and seized a car, arms, and ammunition. Following the killing, the United Naga Council called for a 12-hour shutdown in the hill districts in protest. However, the State government facilitated a meeting between the United Naga Council and COCOMI, a civil society organization representing the Meitei community, resulting in an apology from COCOMI and promises to prevent similar incidents in the future. The State government also committed to providing compensation to the victim’s family.
In adherence to the Supreme Court’s directives on handling cases related to the ongoing conflict, the CBI has taken over the investigation, relocating the trial to Guwahati. The agency is currently in the process of identifying additional suspects in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines.
