The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to refrain from taking statements of the victims of Manipur sexual violence for now. The victims had earlier filed a plea opposing CBI probe into the incidents of sexual violence in Manipur and sought for probe by a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) instead. The court will be hearing the plea of victims today at 2 pm.
The top court will be hearing a bunch of pleas today concerning the ethnic clashes in Manipur. The court had earlier on June 20, taken cognisance of the horrific video that surfaced of two tribal women being paraded naked by a mob on May 4. It had directed the centre and state government to inform it of the action taken against the perpetrators. The court had warned that if no action was taken soon, then it would step in.
“The court is deeply disturbed by the visuals of the video which surfaced yesterday on the perpetration of sexual violence of women in Manipur. We are of the view that the court must be apprised of the steps taken by the government to hold the perpetrators accountable and that such instances are not repeated. The visuals which are portrayed in the media reflects gross constitutional infraction. Using women as an instrument to perpetrate violence in a charged atmosphere is simply unacceptable,” the CJI had said.
Manipur women survivors seek fair probe
The women who were paraded naked and raped in Manipur on May 4 filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the Centre and the state government seeking directions to ensure a fair and impartial investigation of the case. They sought a fair probe by an independent SIT headed by an IG-rank police officer and a transfer of the trial outside the state, according to a report by LiveLaw.
According to the plea, the women have no faith in the state police and have sought security and direction for the recording of their statement under Section 164 of the CrPC by the nearest area magistrate, NDTV reported.
