Manipur SITs file charge sheets in just 6% of 3,023 cases

The SITs were constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate cases of rape, sexual offences against women, murder, loot, and arson in ethnic violence-hit Manipur.

Nineteen months after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, the 42 special investigation teams (SIT) constituted by the Supreme Court have filed charge sheets in only 6% of the 3,023 registered cases.

According to a report accessed by The Hindu, charge sheets pertaining to rape, sexual offences against women, arson, loot, murder, and other heinous acts have been filed only in 192 cases.

The SITs, constituted in August 2023 by drawing police officers from across the country, had till November 20 arrested 384 persons, identified 742 suspects, and examined 11,901 witnesses. As many as 574 accused persons have been charged so far. 

The SITs also seized 501 weapons looted from police armouries in the State and 13,464 ammunition.

It was not clear if trial had begun in the cases.

One of the SITs led by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials that was probing the May 4, 2023 sexual assault of two Kuki-Zo women, who were paraded naked by a mob, lfiled a charge sheet against six accused, including a juvenile, in October 2023.

The case was registered and transferred to the CBI in July 2023, more than two months after the incident took place as a video of the women being paraded naked went viral.

Despite the charge sheet being filed in the case by the CBI in a Guwahati court last year, the trial is yet to begin as directions are awaited from the Supreme Court, a lawyer who is monitoring the cases said on condition of anonymity.

Six groups

Per the directions of the Supreme Court, the SITs were divided into six groups — one group for cases of murder and heinous crime; one for rape and sexual offences against women; and four for cases of arson, looting, and other crimes.

The districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, and Kangpokpi had six SITs each, while Thoubal and Tengnoupal had three each.

The report stated that the 42 SITs were investigating 126 cases of murder, nine cases of sexual crimes against women, and 2,888 cases of loot, arson, and other property crimes.

More than 4,500 weapons were looted from police armouries in Manipur after ethnic violence erupted between the tribal Kuki-Zo people and the majority Meitei community on May 3, 2023. Till now, around 1,800 weapons have been recovered or surrendered by civilians.

Published - December 17, 2024 09:06 pm IST