SIT probe complete in only 10% of Manipur riot cases after 3 years
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Supreme Court was informed that probes into only 10% of over 3,000 Manipur riot cases have been completed by SITs, three years after the ethnic clashes. The court considered setting up special courts and sought responses from the Manipur government and high courts.
Background
Kuki-Meitei ethnic clashes in Manipur starting May 2023 claimed 260 lives and led to thousands of cases. The Supreme Court transferred heinous crimes to CBI and shifted trials to Guwahati.
Key facts
Over 3,000 cases registered from Manipur ethnic clashes; SITs probed 3,020 cases across 8 districts.
Chargesheets filed in only 301 cases (10%); trial commenced in just 10 cases.
CBI investigated 31 cases: filed chargesheets in 21, closure reports in 6 (3 accepted), 4 ongoing.
260 lives lost in the Kuki-Meitei clashes.
SC mulled setting up special courts exclusively for these cases.
Challenges: law-and-order, non-cooperation, language barriers for video-conferencing witnesses.
30 missing persons not traced; families unable to get death certificates.
Encroachment on church lands; SC asked government to stop encroachment and prioritize house reconstruction.
Former Maharashtra DGP Dattatray Padsalgikar oversees investigations.
Prelims pointers
- SIT: Special Investigation Team
- CBI: Central Bureau of Investigation
- SC bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, V Mohana
- Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati
- Dattatray Padsalgikar: former Maharashtra DGP overseeing probes
- Guwahati: venue for trial of heinous cases transferred from Manipur
- Kuki and Meitei communities involved in clashes
Mains angles
- GS2: Role of judiciary in ensuring justice and timely investigation in ethnic violence cases.
- GS3: Internal security challenges – ethnic conflicts and law enforcement response.
- GS2: Issues of federalism – coordination between state police, CBI, and Supreme Court.
- GS2: Governance – challenges in witness protection, video-conferencing, and victim compensation.