The Manipur Government Submits a Status Report to the SC Regarding Arms Recovered From Manipur Violence

The Manipur administration informed the Supreme Court on Friday that it has submitted a status report on the seizure of weapons from “all sources” in the state plagued by ethnic violence.

The status report is for the “consumption” of judges alone, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench presided over by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud while speaking on behalf of the Centre and the Manipur government.

The bench responded that it has already appointed “seasoned” IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar to oversee the investigation of criminal cases in response to the issue brought before it that the CBI should be asked to provide updates on the investigation being conducted by the agency in 11 FIRs transferred to it in cases involving sexual violence against women and children in the state.

The bench, which also included Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said, “Allow a little while for the officer to take charge, monitor the situation, and then we may ask for a status report.”

Former Maharashtra Director General of Police Padsalgikar, according to the CJI, personally traveled to Manipur to supervise the procedure. According to Chandrachud, he is one of Maharashtra’s most admired officials.

The apex court appointed Padsalgikar to oversee the CBI investigation into the FIRs transferred to it as well as the cases being handled by the state police agencies in its order from August 7 on a batch of petitions, including those seeking a court-monitored investigation into cases of violence as well as measures for relief and rehabilitation.

Mehta said that he had presented a report on the seizure of guns to the court at the hearing on Friday.

He said, “That is for your lordships’ consumption.”

A brief affidavit in the case was disclosed to the bench by the solicitor general.

“I also have a brief affidavit that states that whatever issues are being discussed here have already been brought to the (apex court-appointed) committee’s attention,” he added, adding that the panel is now investigating the situation.

A three-member committee of retired high court judges, led by Justice (Retd) Gita Mittal, had previously been constituted by the top court to supervise the assistance and rehabilitation provided to victims of ethnic violence in the state.

judge (retd) Mittal, a former chief judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, is the chair of the all-female panel, which also includes justices (retd) Shalini P Joshi and Asha Menon.

Mehta suggested deferring action until September 25 so the court could review the affidavit and the progress report.

The bench said, “Last time, we had said that the status report on recovery of arms shall be shared with the court,” adding that the affidavit might be given to the petitioners but not the status report.

The subject of returning the remains of the two women who were gang-raped and slain on May 4 to their families was brought up by attorney Vrinda Grover speaking for the petitioners’ side.

“We have written to the committee and to the nodal offices. The corpses have not been returned from May till the end of September, she said.

Mehta said that the committee has already acknowledged it and given the relevant authorities certain directives that are now being carried out.

The CBI has not submitted any updates about the investigation it is doing, according to senior attorney Indira Jaising, who is also representing the petitioners.

She said that although the court-appointed committee has been submitting updates, the CBI’s inquiry has not received any at this time.

Mehta replied, “Your lordships have been pleased to appoint an officer who is supervising it,” alluding to Padsalgikar.

“I don’t have any complaints about the cop. All I’m arguing is that this court need to get a status report, Jaising remarked.

One of the attorneys mentioned a report that the court-appointed committee had submitted, claiming it had some suggestions.

The report’s “operative part” states that it is asking your lordships for instructions on how to accept the recommendations and then issue the necessary orders, the man added.

The bench said that it will take up the case on September 25 and give instructions based on the committee’s findings and the affidavit submitted by the government of Manipur.

The Manipur government and law enforcement agencies were urged by the top court to provide a status report on the seizure of weapons from “all sources” on September 6.

The supreme court was instructed to take this action after learning that a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition had been stolen from police armories and that several illicit weapons were being utilized by opposing parties engaged in interethnic conflict.

The CJI had said, “Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue, the status report (on the recovery of arms) shall be made available only to this court,” and he had added that, as a judge, he was personally opposed to submitting records that were only available to the court and not the litigants.

In response to a high court judgment requiring the state administration to take into consideration adding the non-tribal Meitei population to the list of Scheduled Tribes, Manipur descended into a whirlwind of violence in May.

Consequently, there were several ethnic conflicts. Since May 3, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in hill areas to protest against the dominant Meitei community’s quest for ST status, more than 160 people have died and several hundred more have been wounded as a result of ethnic violence across the state.