Imphal: The Manipur High Court has given a final one-month extension to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file a chargesheet in the Jiribam killings case.
The NIA has submitted two reports in sealed covers to the Manipur High Court on the progress it has made in the investigation of the abduction and death of six women and children of the Meitei community in Jiribam in November 2024. The bodies of the victims were found in the Barak river.
Taking the reports on record, the court has asked the agency to file a chargesheet within a month.
The case has remained unresolved for over eight months, drawing widespread public concern.
A Bench of Chief Justice K. Somashekar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh had earlier in July said considerable time had passed since the incident, but a chargesheet had not been filed yet. The Bench then directed the NIA to submit a detailed probe report.
In the hearing on July 24, the NIA submitted the detailed progress reports related to the case in two sealed covers.
The court’s order said that considering the “peculiar facts and circumstances” of the case and submissions made by the NIA and the State’s Advocate-General, the reports would remain in the custody of the Registrar for “safe custody” until further orders.
Senior Advocate Kh Tarunkumar, representing the petitioners, reminded the court that the abductions took place on November 11, 2024. “Six individuals, including three children, were reportedly abducted under suspicious circumstances. Their bodies were later recovered one by one from the Barak River,” he told the bench.
Tarunkumar questioned the delay in filing a chargesheet, despite the case being transferred to the NIA months ago.
The court, however, gave one month’s time for the NIA to submit the chargesheet as required under Sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. “It is made clear that if there is no progress made, the matter would be viewed seriously,” the court said.
Deputy Solicitor General of India Kh. Samarjit said that the NIA was “in the process of completion of the investigation and filing of a charge sheet against the culprits/accused”.
Samarjit requested a final extension to complete the procedural requirements, which the court granted, setting August 25 as the next hearing date.
ALSO READ: Manipur: Kuki Students’ Organisation objects to MPSC’s decision to hold exams in Guwahati
The court has been hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by office-bearers of the civil society organisation Uripok Apunba Lup, a conglomerate of dozens of local clubs in the Uripok area. They sought detailed progress reports and speedy and fair investigation.
