Manipur ethnic violence situation improving, though slowly: State govt to SC

The Manipur Government on Monday told the Supreme Court that the situation in the troubled state is improving, “though slowly”, to which the Top Indian Court directed the State Government to submit a detailed updated status report, and posted the matter for further hearing to July 10.“The situation in the state is improving though slowly,” Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, senior law officer appearing for Manipur govt, told the Indian Apex Court.Mehta also said that apart from police and Indian Reserve batallions, 114 columns of CAPF and 118 columns of army have been deployed leading to slow return of peace in the state. “The situation in the state is improving,” Mehta told the Apex Court.Then, the Supreme Court sought a detailed status report from Manipur government on the measures taken to curb ethnic violence in the State.It also asked the State to fule a report as to what steps have been taken for rehabilitation camps for homeless and violence-affected people, deployment of forces, and the law and order situation.A bench of the Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud sought a detailed status report from Manipur government by Monday, July 10, when it would take up the matter again for further hearing.It was hearing a batch of pleas relating to the recent incidents of violence in Manipur. One of the petitions sought directions to the Central and State governments to evacuate Manipuri Tribals who had fled to CRPF camps.For Kuki groups, Senior advocate, Colin Gonsalves, counsel appearing for the State’s Kuki group, alleged that Meteis were killing Kukis and women were preventing army from taking action against arsonists.At the same time, Meteis advocate, Luwang told the Apex Court that Kuki militants, mandated to stay in camps, are out of it and using sniper rifles to kill Meteis.