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Synopsis

The Supreme Court today called out the Manipur state's police forces for carrying out a tardy investigation into the various incidents of violence that occurred throughout the state in the past two months.

While relying on the preliminary status report submitted by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today, CJI DY Chandrachud recorded in his order,

"Based on this preliminary report, it appears that investigation has been tardy and arrests have been too far and between..We direct that DGP, Manipur shall be present before us on Monday at 2 PM to answer the queries of the court....".

On being informed that a total of 6523 FIRs have been registered across the state in the past two months till July 30, the bench also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra has asked the government to carry out a disaggregation exercise and submit a tabulated form indicating-

1. dates of occurrence,
2. dates of registration of zero FIR if any,
3. dates of registration of regular FIR,
4. dates on which witness statement have been recorded,
5. dates on which Section 164 CrPC statement have been recorded,
6. dates on which arrest have been made, and
7. if any accused in each FIR have been named.

Court further observed that the police has not been in charge of the situation for the last two months and no law and order has been maintained by them.

Notably, the Supreme Court had observed yesterday that merely handing over the probe into the incident of sexual assault and violence on two women in violence-hit Manipur, to the CBI was not enough. 

"Merely giving it to the CBI cannot be enough.. we have to set out modalities.. who is going to record a statement under section 164 CrPC..what about a woman who has lost her family..justice has to come to her doorstep..", the CJI Chandrachud had observed.

The bench also comprising of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra added that it could identify and constitute a committee, consisting of women ex-judges and some members from society to help with the situation in Manipur.

"..we have to rebuild lives now..so what better way than having some objective assistance of a court trusted committee..not just the state government..we have to instill confidence now in the people", the court observed.

The Union government had last week informed the Supreme Court that the "unfortunate and unacceptable" incident of sexual assault and violence on two women in violence-hit Manipur, has been transferred to the CBI.

It had also requested the apex court to transfer the trial in the case outside Manipur with a direction that the trial should be conducted in a time bound manner within six months after the filing of the chargesheet.

Case Title: DINGANGLUNG GANGMEI vs. MUTUM CHURAMANI MEETEI & ORS.