New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday sought an affidavit from the Manipur chief secretary on deaths, particularly unnatural deaths, reported at relief camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs), and directed authorities to take steps to investigate the cases and protect camp residents.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana questioned the state over the lack of significant action on information submitted by the Justice Gita Mittal committee about deaths in the camps. "We direct the chief secretary of Manipur to file an affidavit on deaths, especially unnatural deaths, at relief camps in Manipur," the bench said. It also sought an explanation for postmortems being conducted in only 20 of 34 reported death cases.

The court further asked why compensation of only Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 was paid to IDPs who died unnatural deaths while staying in relief camps.

The Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) was directed to submit a separate status report. The CJI asked the authority to ensure FIRs are registered in all unnatural death cases, that investigations are completed promptly and that the safety and dignity of people living in the camps are protected. The directions followed the court's examination of reports by the Justice Mittal committee and an IAS officer, which recorded more than 30 deaths in relief camps. One death was reported to have followed an alleged sexual assault.

The bench also expressed hope that two special trial courts set up to hear CBI and NIA cases linked to the 2023 ethnic violence would complete proceedings quickly.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the CBI had investigated 31 cases and filed final reports in 28, while three remained under investigation. The state had formed 42 SITs across eight districts, which registered 3,020 cases. Chargesheets were filed in 302 cases, closure reports in 1,583, while investigations continued in 1,135. Trials had begun in 33 SIT cases. The violence began on May 3, 2023, after a tribal solidarity march against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the majority Meitei community. More than 200 people have died, hundreds were injured and thousands were displaced.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.