These pictures are of various incidents of ongoing violence in Manipur. More than 200 people have died in the ongoing violence since May 3, 2023.
Kuki Sangathan of Manipur has moved the Supreme Court citing some audio clips, claiming that CM Biren Singh has incited violence in Manipur.
The application was heard in the Supreme Court on Friday. The court said that whether the voice in the leaked audio belongs to Chief Minister Biren Singh or not should be investigated. We are ready for this investigation.
In fact, some audio clips related to the violence in Manipur went viral on social media. In which Biren Singh was heard talking about bombing Kuki people and looting weapons.
The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust filed a petition seeking an inquiry against the CM of Manipur. He said the case should be investigated not by the CBI or the ED, but by a SIT made up of officers selected by the Supreme Court.
A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra in the Supreme Court accepted the petition and directed the petitioner to examine the audio clip.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan presented arguments on behalf of the Kuki organization in the Supreme Court. Also, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Attorney General R Venkataramani participated in the inquiry on behalf of the state government.
- Prashant Bhushan: The audio clip contains disturbing words. In which CM Biren Singh is heard inciting violence and defending the attackers. The Chief Minister has not only encouraged violence but has also allowed looting of arms and ammunition.
- SG Tushar Mehta: The Kuki organization should have approached the Manipur High Court. If the Supreme Court considers this petition, it will destroy the dignity of the High Court.
- AG R Venkataramani: The state government should be allowed to restore peace.
- SG Tushar Mehta: We don't know the ground conditions. Honorable Judges are sitting on the Ivory Tower.
- CJI Chandrachud: We are not in an ivory tower. If on the tower, the application would have been rejected. We know what is happening in Manipur. It is our duty as a constitutional court to prevent matters from being swept under the carpet.
- SG Tushar Mehta: I apologize for the ivory tower statement. The term is not used in a derogatory sense.
The CM of Manipur said- a conspiracy was formed against me
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh gave a statement regarding the audio clip in an interview to PTI. He said that some people are behind him. A conspiracy is afoot. The matter is pending in court. One should not speak much about this. An FIR has also been registered in this matter.
Violence resumes in Manipur – Terrorists burn 6 houses, 1 woman killed
Violence erupted once again in Manipur on Friday. Armed militants set ablaze six houses in Jairavan village of Jiribam district. The villagers alleged that the assailants opened fire during this. A woman was killed in the attack. The deceased woman has been identified as Josangkim Hamar (31). Deceased has 3 children. Villagers alleged that the attackers belonged to the Maiitei community. Many people have fled their homes after the incident.
It has been almost 500 days since the violence in Manipur
It has been almost 500 days since the ongoing violence between the Kuki-Maitei. Meanwhile, 237 people have died, more than 1500 people have been injured, 60 thousand people have left their homes and are living in relief camps. About 11 thousand FIRs were registered and 500 people were arrested. During this time there were incidents like naked parade of women, gang rape, burning alive and throat slitting. Even now Manipur is divided into two parts. There is Kuki in the hill districts and Maiitei in the plains districts. Borders are kept between the two, crossing it means death.
School- mobile internet was stopped. The state government banned the internet for 5 days on September 10 following a sudden rise in violent incidents in Manipur. However, the ban on broadband internet was lifted on 12 September.
Know what is the cause of Manipur violence in 4 points…
The population of Manipur is about 38 lakhs. There are three main communities here – Maiitei, Naga and Kuki. The Matais are mostly Hindus. Nga-Kuki follow Christianity. falls under ST category. Their population is about 50%. The Meitei community dominates the Imphal Valley, which covers about 10% of the state. Naga-Kuki constitute about 34 percent of the population. These people live in almost 90% of the state.
How the controversy started: Maiitei community demands that they too be given tribal status. The community filed a petition in the Manipur High Court for this. The community's contention was that in 1949, Manipur was merged with India. Before that they got only tribal status. After this, the High Court recommended to the state government that Maiitei be included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST).
What is Maiitei's contention: The Maiitei tribe believes that years ago their kings called the Kukis from Myanmar to fight a war. After that he became a permanent resident. These people cut forests for employment and started opium cultivation. Due to which Manipur has become a triangle of drug smuggling. All this is happening openly. He formed an armed group to fight the Naga people.
Why Naga-Kuki is against: The other two tribes are against giving reservation to Maiitei community. They say 40 of the state's 60 assembly seats are already in the Meetei-dominated Imphal Valley. In such a situation, if Meitei gets reservation in ST category, their rights will be divided.
What are political equations: Out of 60 MLAs in Manipur, 40 MLAs belong to Maiitei and 20 MLAs belong to Naga-Kuki tribe. So far only two out of 12 CMs have come from the tribe.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
