Tribal forum moves SC, seeks SIT probe into Manipur violence

The Manipur Tribal Forum has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court The PIL before the top court has also prayed for directions to the Central Forces to immediately make secure and safe the areas where the tribals are currently residing

Imphal Free Press, Imphal, 8 May 2023:  The Manipur Tribal Forum has sought the Supreme Court directions to the Central and state governments to evacuate the Manipuri tribals who fled to CRPF camps and to ensure they reach their residence safely under security escort.

The tribal forum has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Supreme Court regarding the matter. The PIL alleged that the attacks on tribal communities in Manipur has the full support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is in power in the state as well as at the Centre.

"These attacks had the full support of the party in power (Indian People's Party, BJP) at the state as well as the Centre which supports the dominant group and has planned the attacks on account of a non-secular agenda which is contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of India," the petition said.

The PIL further alleged that 30 tribal persons were killed by the dominant community and 132 were injured but no first information report (FIR) has been registered so far in relation to any of these.

"Neither FIR was registered nor is there any investigation taking place as the police itself is on the side of the dominant community and has stood by idle while the killings took place," it was submitted.

The petitioner, therefore, prayed for a Special Investigation Team to be constituted headed by Harekrishna Deka, former Director General of Police of Assam and monitored by Chief Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei, former chairman of Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission, so that the accused who assaulted the tribals could be prosecuted.

The current clashes and violence in Manipur has stemmed from the opposition of certain tribes to the demand by the majority Meitei community to grant them Scheduled Tribes status.

On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court had ordered the Manipur government to “consider inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks” from the date of the order. This led to clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities.

The PIL before the top court has also prayed for directions to the Central Forces to immediately make secure and safe the areas where the tribals are currently residing such as New Lambulane, Chekon, Games Village, Paite Veng, Lamphel, Langol, Mantripukhri, Chingmairong, Dulahlane, Langthabal.

Further, the PIL has sought directions to reconstruct the churches which were impacted by the violent clashes.

The PIL was filed through advocate Satya Mitra and drawn by advocates Hetvi Patel and Kaoliangpou Kamei.