New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the CBI to produce and ensure recording of the testimony of the third victim in the 2023 Manipur sexual violence case on dates fixed for the hearing before a special trial court in Guwahati.
The incident dates back to May 4, 2023, during the ethnic violence in Manipur, when a mob allegedly stripped and paraded three women from the Kuki-Zo community naked in Thoubal district.
Two of the women were allegedly gang-raped. The father and brother of one of the victims were also allegedly killed during the incident.
On Tuesday, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana recorded that there are three-victims apart from the complainant in the case and one of the victim has already been cross-examined while recording of testimony of the second victim was going on.
The bench directed the probe agency to ensure the third victim also records her testimony before the trial court on November 13, 16, 16 and 19, dates fixed by the special judge, and posted the matter for hearing after November 19.
At the outset, Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare for the CBI informed the bench that the trial in the case was going on as directed by the court.
Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for one of the accused Yumlembam Jiban Singh, said the trial was delayed for one reason or another despite direction of the court. The accused is seeking bail.
On October 5, the top court directed the CBI and the trial court to ensure the appearance and examination of two key victim-witnesses in the Manipur sexual violence case.
The top court was hearing two separate pleas of the CBI seeking cancellation of bail granted to two accused and a third of the accused, who was denied bail.
Earlier, the CBI had submitted that the release of the accused on bail could affect the willingness of the witnesses to depose.
“The victims were sexually assaulted in the worst possible manner… thereafter paraded and video-recorded,” it had said, adding that the trial had already commenced. The top court had earlier indicated that it would be better to consider the bail issue after the two witnesses had been examined.
It had directed the CBI to ensure that the two victim-witnesses are produced before the trial court on the dates fixed — October 7, 9 and 28 — and that their statements are recorded on those dates.
The trial court was also directed by the court to comply with the order, while all parties were asked to fully cooperate.
The proceedings are part of the Supreme Court’s continuing monitoring of cases arising from the Manipur violence.
On September 17, the bench had expressed shock over scores of deaths in relief camps meant for the internally displaced persons.
It had directed the Manipur chief secretary to apprise it of the steps taken to probe, initiate criminal proceedings and ensure the safety of those living there.
The top court had asked the Manipur and Assam governments and others to consider setting up two special trial courts to exclusively hear CBI and National Investigation Agency cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
The ethnic violence in Manipur broke out on May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march organised in the hill districts to protest the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei community.
Hundreds have been killed, several hundred injured and thousands displaced since the violence broke out. PTI SJK MNL ZMN
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