PIL Before SC Alleging BJP's Involvement In The Manipur Violence

On Saturday, amidst ongoing conflicts in Manipur, a public interest litigation (PIL) was submitted to the Supreme Court. The PIL sought instructions from both the Central and State governments to evacuate the Manipuri Tribals who had fled to CRPF camps and ensure their safe return home with security escort. The Manipur Tribal Forum, the petitioner in the PIL, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state and central levels of providing full support to the attacks on tribal communities in Manipur. The petitioner also claimed that 30 tribal individuals had been killed and 132 injured by the dominant community, but no first information report (FIR) had been registered in connection with any of these incidents.

To bring the accused who attacked the tribals to justice, the petitioner requested the establishment of a Special Investigation Team headed by Harekrishna Deka, former Director General of Police of Assam, and monitored by Chief Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei, former Chairman of Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission.

The ongoing violence in Manipur can be traced back to the opposition of certain tribes to the demand made by the Meitei community, which forms the majority, to be included in the Scheduled Tribe list. On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to consider this demand expeditiously, preferably within four weeks from the date of the order.

This order has led to clashes between the tribal and non-tribal communities in Manipur. The PIL filed before the Supreme Court has requested the Central Forces to take immediate steps to secure the areas where the tribals are currently residing, such as New Lambulane, Chekon, Games Village, Paite Veng, Lamphel, Langol, Mantripukhri, Chingmairong, Dulahlane, and Langthabal. Additionally, the PIL has sought instructions to rebuild the churches that were damaged during the violent clashes.

In addition to the PIL, the Hill Areas Committee Chairperson and BJP MLA Dinganglung Gangmei have filed a petition with the Top Court. The petition challenges the Manipur High Court's March 27 order granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community.

The petition claims that there is currently no proposal for including Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list pending with the Central government. Additionally, it states that the State has never submitted such a proposal to the Union government.