सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने मांगी मनिपुर के राहत शिविरों में 25 असहज मौतों की विस्तृत रिपोर्ट

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Supreme Court orders report on 25 unnatural deaths among displaced people

This handout photograph taken and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Sept. 13, 2025 shows India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) speaking with internally displaced people during a visit to Churachandpur, in the northeastern state of Manipur. (Photo: AFP)

India’s Supreme Court has directed Manipur’s top civil official to submit a comprehensive report on the circumstances surrounding the unnatural deaths of 25 displaced people living in government-run relief camps in the northeastern state.

The court also sought details from the state government on measures taken to ensure the safety and dignity of internally displaced people (IDPs) living in relief camps, after the government failed to provide the Gita Mittal Committee with details of unnatural deaths.

The Supreme Court appointed the judicial committee, headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, to oversee relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims, including those displaced by the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023.

The violence broke out between the indigenous Kuki-Zo and predominantly Hindu Meitei communities after a protest by tribal groups against a Manipur High Court order recommending that the Meitei community be granted Scheduled Tribe status turned violent.

More than 260 people have been killed and over 60,000 displaced since the violence began. Most of those killed and displaced are indigenous Christians.

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, directed Manipur’s chief secretary to provide complete details of the 25 unnatural deaths, including post-mortem reports and other relevant documents establishing the causes of death.

The court also ordered the state government to explain the remedial and security measures taken to protect IDPs in relief camps, particularly after being informed of an alleged sexual assault at one of the camps.

The court was reviewing the progress of rehabilitation efforts for people living in relief camps and the investigation into more than 3,000 cases registered in connection with the ethnic violence over the past three years.

The bench also took note of reports that 640 displaced people had died in relief camps across eight districts and questioned the state government over post-mortem examinations being conducted in only 20 cases.

The court expressed concern over compensation of just 20,000 to 30,000 Indian rupees (US$235-$350) paid to the families of people who died in the camps, among other issues affecting displaced people.

The court directed the Manipur Legal Services Authority to ensure that First Information Reports (FIRs) are registered in all cases of unnatural deaths, determine the causes of death and assess measures taken to ensure the safety and dignity of IDPs in relief camps.

It also directed the state government to ensure adequate medical facilities and basic daily necessities for people living in the camps.

The state government told the court that it had formed 42 Special Investigation Teams to investigate 3,020 cases related to the violence registered across eight districts.

Charge sheets had been filed in 302 cases, closure reports in 1,583 cases, and 1,135 cases remained under investigation, the government said. Trials had begun in 33 cases.

Church leaders welcomed the Supreme Court’s directions but said they were concerned that the orders might not be implemented on the ground.

“The top court orders mostly remain on paper because of the apathy from the Meitei-controlled administration in the state,” a Church leader told UCA News, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and state administration “are controlled by Meiteis who never care for the displaced people, the majority of whom are from Kuki-Zo communities,” the Church leader said Sept. 18.

The Church leader also accused the state administration of “denying even basic facilities in indigenous Christian villages in the hilly regions of the state” since the ethnic violence.

Indigenous Christians account for about 41 percent of Manipur’s 3.2 million people, while Meiteis make up about 53 percent.

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