Manipur "fake encounter' : SC Seeks NIA probe status on 10 Kuki-Zo deaths

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought a status report from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on its probe into the killing of ten people by security personnel at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Manipur's Jiribam district on November 11, 2024.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Atul S. Chandarkar issued notices to the NIA and the Manipur government, directing them to provide the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

"Issue notice for the limited purpose of finding out the outcome of the ongoing investigation by the National Investigation Agency, returnable on 12.01.2026," the bench ordered.

The directions followed arguments by advocate Vishwajeet Singh, appearing for the aggrieved family members of the victims.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

The family members alleged that the victims were innocent and not involved in any extremist activities, claiming they were killed in an alleged fake encounter by the security personnel.

According to the plea filed by five Kuki-Zo community members, the 10 men, belonging to the Hmar tribe of the Kuki-Zo community, were "relief volunteers" from Churachandpur who had gone to the CRPF premises at Borobekra police station for talks regarding the security of nearby villages.

The plea claimed that as they were leaving, a Manipur police commando opened fire, followed by a CRPF soldier firing an LMG, killing the victims.

In contrast, the Manipur government had earlier stated that the 10 individuals were suspected Kuki-Zo militants killed by security forces during an attack on the Borobekra police station and the nearby Jakuradhor CRPF post around 3 pm on November 11, 2024.

A CRPF constable, Sanjeev Kumar, was reported to have suffered a bullet injury in the exchange of fire.

SC Declines Plea for SIT

The bench refused to grant the petitioners' plea for a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the over year-old incident, noting that the investigation was already being handled by the NIA, which is "one of the best agencies."

The court, however, acknowledged the petitioners' inability to approach the Manipur High Court in Imphal due to being a minority community at loggerheads with the majority, citing "constant threats to life and property."

SC's Earlier Monitoring Measures

The Supreme Court had previously constituted a committee of three former women judges on August 7, 2023, to monitor probes by the CBI and 42 state-constituted SITs into cases arising from the state's unprecedented ethnic violence.

This included 11 key FIRs, such as the naked parading of two women. The court had adopted these measures, including inducting officers from various states into the CBI team, to "restore a sense of confidence" among the people of Manipur.