New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed shock over 34 unnatural deaths at the camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, questioning the state's failure to pursue investigations by registering criminal cases and conducting post-mortem examinations. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the state chief secretary to file an affidavit on incidents in camps, especially of unnatural deaths. A three-member court-appointed justice (retd) Gita Mittal-led committee, overseeing relief and rehabilitation in Manipur, told the bench that it found the chief secretary's response unsatisfactory after the panel sought it following a news report in June on the unnatural deaths of 25 IDPs in camps, including one after sexual assault. In July, a nodal officer informed the panel that 34 of the 640 deaths in relief camps were unnatural. Rs.20,000 to 30,000 were paid to the kin of the 34, and post-mortem examinations were conducted in 20 cases. Cases were registered in 25 unnatural deaths. The bench called the information serious and shocking. It took exception to the chief secretary's failure to provide information to the panel. It asked the chief secretary to explain why autopsies were conducted only in 20 cases. It questioned the state why petty compensation was paid when over Rs.5 lakh has been paid in similar cases. The court directed the Manipur Legal Services Authority to take up the matter immediately and ensure cases are registered in all unnatural death cases. The court directed the state to ensure IDPs are treated with dignity and provided medical facilities and day-to-day needs. It also took up a report about the status of investigations by 42 SITs probing 3,020 cases related to the Manipur violence. Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the SITs, informed the court that 1,135 cases are still under investigation. Bhati said charge sheets have been filed in 28 of the 31 cases the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing. Bhati said only six of 900 CBI witnesses have been examined. Advocate Nizam Pasha, who appeared for the victims, pointed out that the CBI trials are being conducted in a special court in Guwahati. He said it is the only CBI court in the state handling other cases of the agency as well. The bench sought an additional CBI court to ensure it can exclusively deal with the Manipur violence matters. HT spoke to some IDPs following the violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023. An IDP, who did not wish to be identified, said financial difficulties and the prolonged displacement had made life difficult. "If the government takes necessary steps and we are able to return and resettle in our homes, such unnatural deaths could be avoided". According to officials, the district commissioner concerned provides Rs.30,000 aid to the family of an IDP who dies inside a relief camp, irrespective of whether death is natural or unnatural. Another IDP from Moreh, Lucky Lairenlakpam, said: "After the closure of the Indo-Myanmar trade, those from Moreh who were engaged in small businesses are unable to survive... If the government fails to formulate a policy for reconciliation at the earliest, the tendency towards suicide among displaced persons could increase."...