The Manipur High Court has recently directed the National Investigation Agency to file a detailed progress report on the Jiribam killings of November 2024, in which 6 Meiteis — 3 women and 3 children — were killed by suspected Kuki-Hmar militants.
Court Flags “Serious Concern” Over Delay
The directive came from a division bench comprising Chief Justice K. Somasekhar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Soram Tekendrajit. The bench expressed deep concern over the lack of visible progress in the investigation, despite an FIR being filed on the day of the incident.
“It has been more than seven months since the incident. If a chargesheet is not filed, the matter should be viewed seriously,” the court remarked.
The judges noted that no report had been submitted under Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which mandates updates during ongoing investigations.
Jiribam Killings: A Chilling Incident
On November 11, 2024, militants reportedly abducted 3 women and 3 children, including a 10-month-old baby, from the Borobekra area in Jiribam district. Their bodies were discovered on November 15 in the Barak River near the Manipur-Assam border. The attack also resulted in the deaths of two more civilians and the destruction of several homes.
The court has asked the NIA to provide a comprehensive report outlining the current status of the investigation and scheduled the next hearing for July 24. The judges signaled that any further delay in filing the chargesheet could prompt stricter judicial scrutiny.
Court’s intervention comes amid rising public concern over justice delays in cases involving ethnic violence in Manipur.
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