Taking over the FIRs from the state police a month ago, the CBI is carefully carrying out its probe amidst the delicate circumstances surrounding the cases, which involve tense ethnic faultlines and challenging witness testimonies.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not made any arrests in the six cases related to the violence in Manipur, according to officials on Friday. Taking over the FIRs from the state police last month, the CBI has been cautiously investigating the cases, keeping them confidential due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
A special investigation team (SIT) under a DIG-rank officer was constituted by the agency in June to probe the cases, which were referred to it by the Union home ministry. However, the agency has faced challenging circumstances during its investigations, encountering hostile crowds, blockades, and protests. Finding witnesses in a state deeply divided along ethnic lines has also posed significant difficulties, as PTI reported.
The violence in Manipur erupted after a "Tribal Solidarity March" in the hill districts on May 3, which was held to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes resulted in numerous casualties and injuries. Prior to the clashes, tension arose over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, leading to a series of smaller agitations.
The population of Manipur comprises Meiteis, who make up about 53 percent of the population and primarily reside in the Imphal valley, and Tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, who account for around 40 percent of the population and reside in the hill districts.