Manipur ethnic violence cases: Supreme Court says trial must be expedited

PTI, May 27, 2026, New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the ongoing trial in the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence cases needs to be expedited and sought a status report from authorities.

Ethnic violence in Manipur broke out on May 3, 2023, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts. The protest was held against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence claimed over 260 lives and left thousands displaced.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that, according to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, chargesheets had been filed in 207 cases against more than 400 accused.

The Bench was hearing a plea of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the grant of bail by the Gauhati High Court to two accused, Arun Khundongbam and Nameirakpam Kiran Meitei, who allegedly gang-raped victims and paraded them naked.

“We are of the view that the ongoing trial needs to be expedited. We have asked the CBI and others to provide legal aid counsel who are well-versed in Manipuri to counsel the victims… The status of the ongoing trial must be filed in the next hearing,” the Bench said.

At the outset, the Bench said the matter was listed to consider the issue of providing legal aid to victims’ families and that it would not interfere with other issues.

Referring to a CBI report, the Bench noted that 20 chargesheets had been filed and trials had commenced in 16 cases, while the SIT report indicated chargesheets in 207 cases against over 400 accused.

The Bench also noted a report filed by former IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar, which said the law and order situation in the state was “precarious” on April 7 and 18 this year, with incidents of violence and strain on the state police.

The court further observed that victims’ faith in the system was of key importance and stressed the need for “confidence-building measures”.

On September 8, 2025, the Gauhati High Court granted bail to the two accused, observing that they had been in custody for two years while charges were yet to be framed, calling it “unjustified prolonged incarceration”.

“While the accusations here are grave and shocking, this court cannot overlook that indefinite detention without trial amounts to pretrial punishment, which is impermissible in law,” the High Court had said.

The CBI has sought cancellation of bail citing the seriousness of the allegations.

During the hearing, advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for some victims, argued that bail had been granted despite the gravity of the offences. The Bench, however, noted that cancellation of bail requires strong grounds.

Earlier in March, the Supreme Court had directed the appointment of legal aid counsel for victims through the State Legal Services Authority.

On July 20, 2023, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter after a video of the assault surfaced online, triggering nationwide outrage. The violence was preceded by tensions over eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land.

In August 2023, the Centre constituted the Justice Gita Mittal Commission to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims of ethnic violence in Manipur, with its tenure recently extended till July 31.

Relevant photo suggestion: A representative image of security forces in Manipur during operations, relief camps for displaced people, or the Supreme Court of India hearing would be appropriate for publication.