Manipur Violence | 'State Govt Escaping Duty To Protect Citizens' Lives': Congress Leader In High Court, Alleges Inaction On Part Of Security Forces

A state Congress leader has filed an affidavit before the Manipur High Court stating that the State Government is trying to escape its responsibility to protect the lives & properties of victims in the violence-hit Moreh town of the state.

Congress leader K. Devabrata Singh has also claimed that many untoward incidents of burning of properties, lootings, and harassment are continuously happening in the Moreh town, however, the Union and State security personnel are trying to divert from the issue of protecting properties and lives of civilians belonging to a particular community.

The submissions have been made in a pending PIL plea filed by Singh seeking to 'safeguard' houses and properties of people of Meitei, Tamil and other minor communities claiming that they have been evacuated from Moreh Town due to the recent ethnic clashes in the state.

Singh, in his additional affidavit, has also prayed that the Commanding Officer of Assam Rifles, In-Charge of Moreh Town and Superintendent of Police, Tengnoupal District and other responsible officers of Home Ministry, Union of India, as well as Home Department, Govt. of Manipur, be directed to appear in person before the to explain the lapse of the security leading to failure of complying with the direction of the High Court.

Significantly, the petitioner has averred that the Union, as well as the state government, failed to explain the lapses on their part that led to the violence in the Moreh town, despite the Court's order to provide adequate security to protect the houses and other properties belonging to the people of minor communities.

It may be noted that hearing this PIL plea on May 15, the High Court had directed the State government to provide adequate security to protect the houses and other properties belonging to the people who have been evacuated from Moreh Town due to the ethnic clashes that occurred recently.

Thereafter, on June 2, the petitioner claimed in the High Court that despite the Court's interim order to provide adequate security to clash victims, some miscreants (allegedly Kuki armed Militants), burnt down many houses due to lapses of the security forces including the State forces and the Central Forces posted there.

Taking into account the same, the Court sought an affidavit from the State as well as Union Government to explain the lapses on the part of the security personnel that led to the subsequent events.

Though affidavits were filed as per the Court's orders, the petitioner has claimed in its additional affidavit that the respondents failed to explain their failure to prevent ethnic clashes.

Importantly, the petitioner has also submitted that the State's affidavit, filed on August 2, also failed to apprise the Court about the incident that took place on July 26 wherein at least 30 houses and shops were set ablaze by a riotous mob.

"The State Government is trying to scot free from their liabilities to comply with the directions of this Hon'ble Court as well as their duty to protect the lives and properties of the victims who are the citizens of India....untoward incidents of burning of properties, lootings, harassing are continuously happening at Moreh town and hence, the replies filed by the respondent authorities failed to clarify the security lapse on the parts of the security personnel of both State and Central forces and trying to divert from the core issue of protecting the properties and lives of civilians belonging to a particular community. In fact, the inactions of the security forces both State and Central amounts to non-compliance of the order and direction of this Hon'ble Court with a malafide intention by making a mockery of this Hon'ble Court," the affidavit avers.

The Court is set to PIL plea next on August 10.

In related news, hearing a bunch of petitions related to Manipur violence, including the petitions filed by victims of sexual violence, the Supreme Court's bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, on August 1, slammed the investigation carried out by the Manipur police in relation to the ethnic violence as "lethargic" and went to the extent of saying that there is "absolute breakdown of law and order and machinery of the State".

On Monday (August 7), the Top Court said that it will pass a slew of directions in relation to the Manipur violence cases to "restore a sense of faith in the rule of law and build a sense of confidence".

The Court said that it will constitute a committee of three former female High Court judges to "look at diverse aspects on humanitarian nature". It will be a "broad-based committee" looking at things including relief, remedial measures, rehabilitation measures, and restoration of homes and places of worship.

This Committee will be headed by Justice Gita Mittal (former Chief Justice of J&K High Court), and will consist of Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi( former Bombay HC judge) and Justice Asha Menon(former Delhi HC judge).

Senior Advocate Sapam Biswajit Meitei assisted by Advocate Naorem Prista Devi to appear for the petitioner.