The Supreme Court of India expressed shock after learning that 34 unnatural deaths occurred in relief camps housing internally displaced persons in violence-hit Manipur, criticizing state authorities over low compensation payments and failures to consistently conduct post-mortems or register criminal cases.
The court’s observations followed a report submitted by a three-member court-appointed committee headed by retired Justice Gita Mittal, which is supervising relief and rehabilitation efforts in the state. The committee informed the bench that a response provided by Manipur’s chief secretary was unsatisfactory after the panel sought clarification regarding June reports detailing unnatural deaths among displaced residents, including at least one case involving alleged sexual assault.
According to information provided to the panel by a state nodal officer, 34 of the 640 total deaths recorded in relief camps were classified as unnatural. Post-mortem examinations were conducted in 20 of those cases, while police registered formal cases in 25 instances. Authorities paid between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 in compensation to the families of the deceased.
The Supreme Court bench termed the findings serious and concerning, taking exception to the chief secretary’s failure to furnish complete information to the oversight committee. Justices questioned why post-mortems were omitted in 14 of the unnatural death cases and why victims’ families received lower financial compensation, noting that over ₹5 lakh has been provided in comparable cases.
To address the procedural gaps, the court instructed the Manipur Legal Services Authority to intervene immediately and ensure formal criminal cases are registered for every unnatural death. The court also ordered state authorities to ensure displaced individuals in camps receive medical care, basic necessities, and dignified treatment.
Alongside camp conditions, the court examined status reports regarding investigations into wider violence across the state. A total of 42 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been tasked with investigating 3,020 cases arising from the conflict.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the SITs, informed the court that investigations remain ongoing in 1,135 cases, while probes have concluded in 1,583 cases. Of the completed investigations, charge sheets were submitted in 302 cases, with closure reports filed in the remainder. Trials have commenced in 33 cases.
Regarding matters handled by central authorities, Bhati stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is handling 31 cases, having filed charge sheets in 28 and closure reports in the remaining three. Out of 900 witnesses identified in the CBI cases, six have been examined so far. Advocate Nizam Pasha, representing victims, informed the court that the CBI trials are being held in a single special court in Guwahati, Assam, which also manages the agency’s other regional cases.
Sources
– Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-expresses-shock-over-unnatural-manipur-idp-deaths-questions-state-failure-101789632930279.html
Source: Hindustan Times – India News
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
