Manipur Violence| Plea In SC Seeks Army Control Of Law & Order Situation In Certain State Districts, Compensation Of Rs. 2 Crore For Tribals Killed
|An application has been moved before the Supreme Court in a pending matter by Manipur Tribal Forum seeking immediate direction to the Union of India to deploy Indian Army to take full control of certain districts of the State of Manipur to ensure the killings & assault on the tribal community comes to an end.
The application states that it was brought before the notice of the Supreme Court on May 8, 2023, that the State and its Police are not trusted by the Tribals and had sought protection from the Army but despite the Court's direction to authorities to look into the grievances nothing has been done. It is highlighted that the Solicitor General of India gave an assurance before the Court that peace was being restored but to no avail, as since then over 81 Kukis were killed, 237 churches and 73 administration buildings/quarters were burnt and 141 villages were destroyed and 31410 Kukis have been displaced from their homes.
The plea reads that "The media has covered the situation as a “clash” as if the two communities are fundamentally attacking each other. Nothing could be further from the truth. Such a narrative misses the fact that the two communities have co-existed for a long time despite their sometimes deep-rooted differences and, secondly, that the unique situation presently existing is of a couple of armed communal groups linked to the party in power in the State, carrying out a predesigned communal attack on the tribals."
On May 8, 2023, the Chief Justice led Bench had on the contention of safety noted that "As regard the steps which are intaken for restoring normalcy, the SG has placed on record the statement indicating that 52 companies of the Central Armed Police Force; 105 columns of the Assam Rifles have been deployed in Manipur; flag marches have been conducted; a senior former police officer has been appointed as advisor to the state government and another senior officer to serve as chief secretary for the Government of Manipur; meetings have been conducted and vigilance is being maintained; Helicopters and drones are being used for surveillance and relief camps are open for the displaced persons where ration and medical help are being provided."
The application filed highlights 85 sensitive villages where fresh attacks are expected at any moment. It states that in addition to these 85 villages, the districts of Churachangpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Imphal East, and Imphal West need immediate protection from the Army.
It has been further alleged that to date, 86 tribal people have been confirmed dead and 50 or more are still unaccounted for. The number of Churches burnt/vandalised is 227 and the number of burnt/vandalised Churches’ administration buildings/quarters is 73 and the number of villages burnt/vandalised is 141 and the number of houses burnt/vandalised is more than 4000 while the number of tribal people injured is alarming.
The application further seeks that as per the assurances given by Home Minister on May 31, 2023, Rs 10 lakhs compensation be released to the kin of those killed, the need for Cold storage as dead bodies are just lying around decaying without any post-mortem. It has also been added that the Central government has not yet promulgated Article 355 till date despite the fact that there was mayhem in the state as violence escalated and spread like wildfire, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order.
Along with other prayers, the applicant seeks an SIT be established headed by Harekrishna Deka, former DGP Assam and monitored by Chief Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei, to provide Rs 2 crores within one week, and to also provide a permanent Government job to a family member of the deceased, reconstruction of the houses/villages etc. and churches destroyed in the assaults, sufficient numbers of doctors to carry out all the post mortems and such similar directions.
Cause Title: Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi v. State Of Manipur And Anr.