The state authorities had not been able to reach the victims of sexual assault of three Kuki women in Manipur on 4 May either physically or telephonically because of “resistance from civil society organisations in Churachandpur”, where the victims and their families had fled to after the incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs has stated in a report submitted to the Supreme Court late last week.
On 20 July, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud had stated that it was “deeply disturbed” by visuals of the incident, which had come to light on July 19 and had been widely circulated since.
The apex court had asked the Union government and the state government to apprise it of steps taken to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Manipur BJP government and Narendra Modi led Union government were widely questioned by the Opposition and rights groups in the country over their inaction against the violence against tribes in the northeastern state.
The affidavit said that an all-women team comprising two psychiatrists and a psychologist from Churachandpur District Hospital has been constituted to assist the victims.
The Ministry further submitted that it has been made mandatory for police stations in-charge to report “all such cases” to the DGP, and that these investigations will be monitored by a police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police under the direct supervision of the DGP.
During its probe in the case, the Manipur police arrested seven Meitei people since the video of brutal assault surfaced on July 19. Though a zero FIR in connection with the incident had been registered on May 18 itself, till July 19, the probe had not made any progress.
