What Does the Manipur HC Expect from NIA Regarding the Jiribam Killings?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Manipur High Court demands accountability from NIA.
- Progress report on Jiribam killings is crucial for justice.
- Incident has led to violence in multiple districts.
- Importance of timely investigations emphasized by the court.
- Community's trust in law enforcement is at stake.
Imphal, July 8 (NationPress) The Manipur High Court has mandated the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to present a comprehensive progress report concerning the Jiribam killings that occurred in November 2024, where three women and three children of the Meitei community were allegedly murdered by militants.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Kempaiah Somashekar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh issued this directive on Monday following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Soram Tekendrajit.
“Should the charge-sheet remain unfiled, this situation must be treated with utmost seriousness,” the court stated, voicing its concern over the evident stagnation in the investigation.
The High Court instructed the senior Public Prosecutor-cum-Counsel for Government (PCCG) representing the NIA, W. Darakeshwor, to provide a detailed progress report concerning the charge sheet to the appropriate court.
During the proceedings, PCCG W. Darakeshwor appeared in person before the court. Addressing the November 11, 2024, incident, the High Court remarked: “An FIR was lodged on that day by the relevant authority. Yet, to this day, no progress report has been submitted by the investigating agency in accordance with Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC), nor has any charge been filed by the competent authority.”
“.... it is appropriate to note that although the incident occurred on November 11, 2024, over seven months have elapsed without any progress report from the NIA represented by W. Darakeshwor. The counsel in this case requests a brief extension on the grounds that he intends to present a detailed progress report regarding the charge sheet,” the court mentioned.
The case is slated for the next hearing on July 24, 2025. On November 11 last year, three Meitei women and three children, including a 10-month-old infant, were reportedly abducted by Kuki militants from the Borobekra region in Jiribam district.
The victims' lifeless bodies, riddled with bullets, were subsequently discovered on separate occasions from the Barak River along the Manipur-Assam border in November. The violent attack also resulted in the deaths of two civilians and the destruction of numerous homes.
The November 11, 2024, tragedy ignited widespread unrest across several districts in Manipur, including Jiribam, which shares an interstate boundary with southern Assam.