Women in Manipur Video Plead SC; Seek Security, SIT Probe

The two Manipuri womenwho were paraded naked, groped and filmed before being gang-raped on May 4 have filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against the Centre and the state government seeking directions to ensure a fair and impartial investigation of the case.

A Bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwalaand Manoj Misra will hear the petition on Monday. The women’s identities have been concealed as ‘X’ and ‘Y’ in the petitions, LiveLaw reported.

The women have sought a probe led by an independent Special Investigation Team(SIT) headed by an IG-rank police officer and a transfer of the trial outside the state.

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.

The Centre had requested the SC to transfer the trial out of Manipur to any other state and sought a direction to complete the trial within six months of filing the chargesheet.The SC will also hear the Union government’s request for transferring the case to a different state.The Centre has already transferred the case to the CBI.

On July 20, the apex court took suo moto cognisance of the issue, directed the Centre and the state to inform it of the steps taken to arrest the perpetrators, and said that it would step in if the government doesn’t act.

“We are very deeply disturbed about the videos distributed. We are expressing our deep concern. It is time that the government steps and takes action. This is unacceptable,” CJI Chandrachud had said.

“If the government does not act, we will. We believe that the court must be apprised of the steps taken by the government so that perpetrators are booked for such violence. What is portrayed in the media and visuals which appeared shows gross constitutional violation,” he added.

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Associationand the Supreme Court Bar Associationtoo had condemned the ongoing violence in Manipur, especially referring to the disturbing video. Besides, the NHRC has taken cognisance of complaints seeking its urgent intervention into the incident.