In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has assumed control of the investigation into the horrifying May 4 incident in Manipur, where three women were subjected to a brutal assault, while their two male family members were killed. The case gained national attention after a leaked video of the incident went viral, prompting outrage and calls for justice.
The Union home ministry, displaying its commitment to addressing crimes against women, decided to hand over the case to the CBI, seeking prompt action and a fair trial. An affidavit was filed in the Supreme Court, with the government emphasizing a “zero-tolerance” approach towards such heinous offenses. The Centre also urged that the trial be concluded within six months of the charge sheet filing and that it should take place outside Manipur, aiming to ensure an unbiased and expeditious legal process.
In a bid to restore peace and normalcy to the strife-torn region, the home ministry engaged in multiple rounds of talks with the warring Kuki and Meitei communities. The state of Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes since May 3, primarily between the Kukis residing in the hill districts and the dominant Meitei community in Imphal Valley. The conflict escalated when tribal Kuki groups protested against a proposed alteration to the state’s reservation matrix, which sought to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community.
The violence led to mass displacements, leaving over 50,000 people uprooted and 150 lives lost. The Manipur police has already apprehended seven suspects in connection with the May 4 case, including individuals seen in the distressing video. The person responsible for filming the video has also been arrested, and the mobile phone used for recording has been recovered. Prior to the CBI’s involvement in this case, their Special Investigation Team (SIT) was already investigating six other instances of violence in Manipur, including the looting of weapons from state armouries.
With the CBI taking custody of the accused arrested by Manipur police and conducting thorough interrogations, the agency is now set to record statements from the victims, their families, and witnesses to build a comprehensive case. The CBI’s intervention in the Manipur violence case reflects the gravity of the crime and the government’s commitment to delivering justice swiftly and decisively. The nation awaits the trial’s outcome, hoping it serves as a deterrent against any future crimes targeting women and strengthens the fight against heinous offenses throughout the country.