Imphal: A sessions court in Manipur‘s Churachandpur was on Thursday designated as a special NIA court for the trial of cases related to ethnic violence being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a notification, said the Court of District and Sessions Judge, Churachandpur District, Manipur has been designated as the Special Court under Section 11 of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 (34 of 2008).
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008), the Central government, in consultation with the chief justice of the High Court of Manipur hereby designates the court of district and sessions judge, Churachandpur district, as the special court for the purpose of Sub-section (I) of Section 11 of the said Act, for the trial of the scheduled offences investigated by the National Investigation Agency,” the notification said.
The jurisdiction of the special court shall extend throughout Manipur.
The agency has taken over three key cases related to ethnic violence that began on May 3, 2023. The cases include the abduction and killing of six women and children in Jiribam, as well as other violent incidents.
ALSO READ: NIA arrests Manipur militant in connection with woman’s brutal murder
The NIA registered these cases in November 2024 after the MHA decided to hand them over to the agency for probe due to the severity of the crimes and the escalating violence in Manipur.
Manipur witnessed violence for several months since May 3, 2023. This unrest began following protests by Kuki-Zo tribals in the hill districts, who were opposing a high court recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community.
