Manipur Violence: Supreme Court transfers CBI case to Assam; victims granted permission to record statements virtually

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud passed orders in which it said that the trial of the cases pertaining to Manipur violence which are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can be held in Assam. He further added that the victims of Manipur violence can record their statements in online mode also.

The decision was taken after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that proper internet facilities will be made available in Manipur so as to ensure smooth recording of the statements of the victims through videoconferencing.

However, the Supreme Court clearly mentioned that the order would not be binding on those who want to physically visit Assam and record their statements.

The Supreme Court of India after hearing a number of pleas pertaining to Manipur violence including the one related to the viral video in which two women from the Kuki-Zomi community were paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob of men issued these   directives.

The Supreme Court bench issued the following directives keeping in mind the present environment in Manipur.

• The statement of witnesses under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is permitted to be recorded in the presence of a local magistrate in Manipur. The Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court shall designate one or more magistrates for this.
• The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court shall nominate judges who are conversant with one or more languages spoken in Manipur to deal with the criminal trial.

Recently, the Supreme Court had appointed the Justice Gita Mittal committee to oversee relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the Manipur violence. The committee had submitted three reports and it had proposed that the amount of compensation should also be increased.

Meanwhile, in wake of various incidents of violence that had marred the northeastern state  the Central Government had ordered for probe by the CBI.

Its been almost four months when Manipur was hit by severe violence so much so that more than 200 people lost their lives and property worth crores of rupees was destroyed and damaged. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort had said that the people of India stand with Manipur and soon normalcy would be restored. Also Union Home Minister Amit Shah had issued a detailed statement about the violence in Manipur and the steps that has been taken to combat it.

Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh had also said that after the PM’s statement in the parliament, the state is witnessing peace and soon  normalcy would be completely restored.