Manipur Unrest: Manipur Tribal Forum Moves Apex Court Contending Violence Has BJP Support; Seeks SIT Probe
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi:(8, May 2023), In the ensuing clashes and constant unrest the State of Manipur, a public interest Litigation (PIL), petition is filed before Apex Court on Saturday.
The plea seeks the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to investigate the on-going atrocities being committed on the tribals allegedly by the members of the dominant Meiti community.
It is further submitted that the petitioners seeks directions to the Central and State governments to evacuate the Manipur Tribal who had fled to CRPF camps and to ensure they reach their residence safely under security escort.
The PIL filed by Manipur Tribal Forum claims that attacks on tribal communities in Manipur has the full support of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), which has power in State as well as in Centre.
The attacks begun on 03-05-2023 and more than 41 churches had been razed to ground, where in the mob went on a rampage, burning houses and vehicles and business establishments and even hospitals belonging to the tribal and in respect of this a relief clause has been made for to put together a team of professional to conduct an inquiry into villages destroyed and burnt during the present recent assault on the tribal.
The petitioners claim that these attacks are being carried out with full support of BJP which is ruling in State as well as in Centre.
These attacks are planned on account of a non-secular agenda which is contrary to the provisions of constitution of India.
During this period 30 tribals were killed by the dominant community and 132 were injured and in respect of these people 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.
The petitioner therefore, prayed for a Special Investigation Team to be constituted headed by Harekrishna Deka former DGP Assam and monitored by Chief Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei, Retd. The Chairman of Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission, who is originally from the state of Manipur.
The current clashes and violence in Manipur has stemmed from the opposition of certain tribes to demand by the majority Meitei community to grant them scheduled tribes status.
On April 19, 2023, Manipur High Court had ordered the Manipur government to “Consider inclusion of the Meetei/Meiei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period four weeks” from the date of the order.
This has led to the clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities.
The PIL seeks Apex Court to Direct 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, where it is anticipated by the tribal that further attacks are likely to take place shortly.
The PIL further sought direction to reconstruct the churches which were impacted by violent clashes.
