By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that the trial in a case related to the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur needs to be expedited and sought a status report on the progress of the proceedings from authorities.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the bail granted by the Gauhati High Court to two accused — Arun Khundongbam and Nameirakpam Kiran Meitei, in a case involving allegations of gang rape and public parading of women during the violence.
The bench observed that the matter required urgent attention and said the legal process should move faster.
“We have said 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 Manipur to counsel the victims,” the court observed.
The court clarified that the legal aid provided to victims’ families would not interfere with other proceedings in the matter.
Referring to a CBI report, the bench noted that 20 chargesheets had been filed and trial had commenced in 16 cases linked to the violence.
According to a status report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), chargesheets have been filed in 207 cases involving more than 400 accused persons.
The court also took note of a report submitted by former IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar, which stated that law and order conditions in Manipur remained “precarious” on April 7 and April 18 this year amid continuing incidents of violence and pressure on the state police force.
The bench said maintaining the confidence of victims in the justice system remained important and stressed the need for continued confidence-building measures where necessary.
The hearing comes after the Gauhati High Court granted bail to the two accused on September 8, 2025, citing prolonged incarceration of nearly two years without charges being framed.
The CBI has sought cancellation of the bail order, arguing that the allegations are serious and warrant continued legal scrutiny.
The Supreme Court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the Manipur violence in July 2023 after a video showing women being paraded naked surfaced online and triggered nationwide outrage.
The ethnic violence in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised in hill districts against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The violence claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands.