There is no law and order left at all in Manipur; State police incapable of investigation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a very grim view of the violence in the State of Manipur and the lack of action on the part of the State police in controlling the situation and bringing the guilty to the book..A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that the State Police is incapable of investigating the crimes happening across the State including sexual offences against and women, and there is a total breakdown of law and order machinery."State police is incapable of investigation. Absolutely.. There is no law and order left at all," CJI Chandrachud remarked.The Court made the observation after taking note of the fact that there have been very few arrests made despite registration of over 6,000 first information reports (FIRs)."The investigation is so lethargic. No arrests made. Statements being recorded after such lapse of time. This gives an impression that there was no law and breakdown of constitutional machinery. Maybe it is correct that arrest could not be made because police could not enter the locality.. but even then, there was complete breakdown of law and order," the CJI further said.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, said that the situation in the ground has to be considered."In 6,000 FIRs, you have made 7 arrests?" the Court asked."7 arrests is only in the 11 FIRs.. There is no lethargy. What is being said here will have repercussions," the SG replied.He also assured the Court that the situation was returning to normalcy. "Situation is now coming back to normal and that is why we ordered the CBI probe and said that let this court monitor it," he submitted. "People who are living in the State, if law and order machinery cannot protect them, then what happens to the people?" the CJI asked. "I am resisting myself from saying something. Why coordinated effort on one side? And people on the ground knows why it happened," the SG said..The bench was hearing a batch of pleas filed regarding the outbreak of violence in Manipur including a plea by two women from Kuki-Zomi community who were seen in a video being paraded naked and molested by a mob of men.The women later approached the apex court seeking a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the incident.According to Mint, the incident happened on May 4 and the women were later gang raped by the mob.The Central government subsequently ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the issue.The Supreme Court also registered a suo motu case after the video of the horrific incident went viral on social media triggering outrage.When the matter was heard yesterday, the Supreme Court had contemplated the formation of a committee of retired woman judges to probe into incidents of sexual violence against women in Manipur.The Court had also sought details from the State and the Central government about the 6,000 first information reports claimed to have been registered in connection with the violence in the State..During the hearing today, the government furnished details of many of the FIRs registered including the FIR in relation to the two women who were paraded nude. The Court after hearing the parties directed that the Director General of Police of Manipur be personally present before the Court on August 7, Monday. .Manipur people are unable to access basic healthcare in Digital India: Mishi Choudhary on the internet shutdown.The current clashes and violence in Manipur have stemmed from the opposition of certain tribes to the demand by the majority Meitei community to grant them Scheduled Tribes status.On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court had ordered the Manipur government to “consider inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period four weeks” from the date of the order.This led to clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities.This had led to many petitions before the top court on the issue.On May 8, the State government had assured the Supreme Court that concerns regarding the ongoing violence would be addressed, and that remedial measures shall be taken on a proactive basis.The Supreme Court had then called for due arrangements to be made in relief camps and for necessary precautions to be taken to rehabilitate displaced persons and to protect places of religious worship..[Live coverage of hearing below]