Seven months, no charge sheet
High Court of Manipur has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit a detailed progress report in terms of charge sheet of a case related to killing six persons – three children including a 10 month old infant and three women – after abduction by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur’s Jiribam district.
“If charge sheet is not filed, this matter should be viewed seriously,” the court stated while issuing the directive.
The family of six members– three children and three women belonging to the Meitei community who were kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants while attacking a relief camp of the IDPs at a police outpost in Jiribam district on November 11, 2024, were later brutally murdered by the kidnappers and thrown into the Barak River.
The NIA took over the investigation of the case which was registered at a police station in Jiribam district on the same day.
The court also noted that “if charge sheet is not filed, the matter should be viewed seriously.”
A division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising chief justice K Somasekhar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh issued the directive on Monday (July 7) during a hearing to a PIL filed by one Soram Tekendrajit.
The petitioner, through his counsel, sought for taking action against the concerned culprits while alleging that the investigating agency has not submitted the charge sheet even after seven months since the incident occurred.
The infamous Jiribam killings occurred on November 11, 2024 and on the same day, an FIR was registered by the competent authority.
“However, till date, no progress report submitted by the concerned investigation agency under the provision of section 167 of CrPC and no charge has been filed in the rank of the authority,” the order noted.
The order read, “…….even though the incident occurred on 11.11,2024, it has been almost more than 7 (seven) months. There is no progress report submitted by the NIA.”
The court listed the next hearing of the PIL on July 24, 2025.
In the attack, to note here, two civilians were also killed and several houses were burnt.
The bullet riddled dead bodies of the six women and children were later recovered from Barak River along Manipur Assam border on November 15.
In December last year, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed in the Manipur High Court informed that the NIA has taken over the case for investigation.
The PIL had sought for a speedy and transparent investigation into the case.