Tribal group from Manipur files appeal with SC, citing renewed violence after LS elections

A group called the Manipur Tribal Forum (MTF) has petitioned the Supreme Court, expressing concern that there would be another wave of violence against the Kuki-Zo community in the state of Manipur after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The organization asks the court for the proper orders.

The MTF’s most recent application asks for the Kuki-Zo community to get urgent help. Respected DGP (retd) Dattatray Padsaligikar has been asked for assistance and protection on many occasions, but neither he nor any other state official has responded effectively on their behalf.

The MTF petition said, “No actions seem to have been taken by him for the affected community despite repeated reminders and the passage of time.”

The organization also claims in their application to the highest court that the victim community has been kept in the dark while the accused attackers are at large, despite sending five memos to Padsalgikar about recent violent incidents and the confiscation of weapons.

According to the plea that MTF filed with the supreme court, the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur has personally observed the complete arming of attacker groups within the last six months.

The petition said that “one of these groups, the Arambai Tenggol, has threatened to annihilate the Kukis.” The MTF has come to the highest court with folded hands, pleading for the immediate action they need.

The forum also demands that the accused parties in the case be put into custody right away, citing a lack of action over the reported decapitation of a Kuki youngster.

In addition, the MTF demands that S Premchandra Singh be taken into custody right now for killing the Kuki youngster.

The State of Manipur need to provide complete information on the criminal complaints, investigations, arrests, court orders obtained, and charge sheets created in relation to the violence against women and 170 Kuki fatalities.

In light of the greater context of violence against the Kuki-Zo tribe, it also requests a directive from the highest court for the Indian Army to safeguard the lives and property of the community right now.

The Supreme Court has made the decision to investigate the matter of establishing rules for a trial involving an accused person who has speech and hearing impairments but is otherwise medically capable of committing a horrific crime such as rape. A bench noted that it had been made aware that the SC had not yet established any such rules. The matter came before the bench, which denied a man’s request for bail after he was found guilty of raping two young girls.

The Supreme Court gave imprisoned TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya an extension to submit more paperwork to bolster his bail request in a case involving purported anomalies in West Bengal primary school teacher hiring. Judges Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal’s bench reviewed senior attorney Siddharth Luthra’s arguments when he represented Bhattacharya, stating that he wished to submit certain papers for record.