CBI to probe Manipur stripping, Centre asks SC to shift trial outside state | India News – Times of India
Home secretary Ajay Bhalla, in an affidavit in his official capacity before the SC, which had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident while terming it “completely unacceptable”, said, “The approach of the central government is of zero tolerance towards any crimes against women. The central government considers offences like the present one to be too heinous, which deserve to be taken not only with seriousness but justice should be seen to be done so that it has a deterrent effect throughout the nation with respect to crimes against women.” Bhalla informed the court that seven accused have been arrested.
March against ST status for Meiteis triggered trouble: Bhalla
He said the investigation should be completed at the earliest and the trial should be conducted in a time-bound manner outside Manipur.
“The central government, therefore, makes a specific request that the entire case, including the trial of the offence in question, be ordered to be transferred by the SC to any state outside Manipur. The power to transfer the case/trial outside any state is only with the SC and, therefore, the central government is making this request to the SC to pass such an order with a further direction to conclude the trial within six months from the date of filing of the chargesheet by the CBI,” the home secretary said.
Mentioning that the solidarity march taken out by All Tribal Students Union Manipur protesting against the demand for grant of ST status to Meiteis as the trigger for the ethnic clashes in the state bordering Myanmar, Bhalla said the call for this march led to a counter response from Meiteis, following which largescale violence broke out in the state resulting in loss of many lives, injuries to several others and burning of houses.
Assuring the court that the Centre was closely monitoring the law and order situation, even though it was primarily the task of the state government, Bhalla said, “Having regard to the escalation in ethnic clashes and the need for investigations at various levels, the government is engaging itself on initiating several interventionist measures, both mediatory and political processes.”
The Centre also informed the SC that the state government has formed “district psychological support” teams to provide mental health intervention at various relief camps, apart from providing other relief, rehabilitation and healthcare measures. It said the state government has been advised to form fast-track courts to expeditiously complete trial against those accused of violence and other crimes during the clashes.
