The Supreme Court has instructed the Manipur government to provide an updated status report detailing the actions taken for rehabilitation, improvement of law and order, and recovery of arms in the state affected by ethnic violence. According to a PTI report, during the hearing, the state government informed the bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the situation is gradually improving with the curfew now limited to five hours per day.
The bench, consisting of Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, reportedly emphasized the need for information on rehabilitation camps, law and order measures, and the progress made in recovering arms. The court listed a batch of petitions related to the issue for a hearing on 10 July.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Manipur government, expressed his disappointment at the allegations made by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who represented minority Kuki organizations. Gonsalves had claimed that some militant groups were sponsored by the state, prompting Mehta to urge him to avoid introducing a communal angle into the matter.
During the hearing, Mehta provided an overview of the deployment of security forces and the current status of law and order in the state. He stated, “Though slowly, the situation is improving in the state. Wherever there is a problem, it is being addressed. Besides the civil police, Indian Reserve Battalions, Manipur Rifles, commandos, 114 companies of CAPF, and 184 columns of the Army are deployed. There are also 355 relief camps.”
Gonsalves countered by stating that attacks on Kukis have increased significantly after the state reported a decrease in incidents of violence. He alleged that no action had been taken against those responsible and demanded the disbandment of armed groups to prevent further escalation.
The court also took note of the submissions made by a lawyer representing a Meitei group, who claimed that some Kuki militants possess assault rifles. The bench instructed the solicitor general to seek instructions on this matter.
The bench scheduled the next hearing for Monday after Mehta assured that the state government would submit an updated status report outlining the measures taken and the current situation. The Supreme Court had previously directed the Manipur government to foster confidence, peace, and tranquility in the state following ethnic violence.
The court had also addressed alleged provocative statements by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and advised restraint. The administration was urged to handle the law and order issue effectively.
The Manipur situation is currently under the consideration of the apex court, with various pleas filed on the matter. These include a plea by a ruling BJP MLA challenging the high court’s order on Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community and a PIL by a tribal NGO demanding an SIT probe into the violence in the state.
(With inputs from agencies)
