Imphal: The Manipur High Court has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit a comprehensive progress report on the investigation into the November 2024 killings in Jiribam district, in which six members of the Meitei community—three women and three children—were brutally murdered.
The directive was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice K. Somasekhar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Soram Tekendrajit.
The court expressed concern over the apparent delay in the probe, noting that no progress report had been submitted under Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code, nor had a chargesheet been filed.
“It has been more than seven months since the incident occurred,” the bench observed. “If a chargesheet is not filed, the matter should be viewed seriously.”
The court has asked the NIA to submit a detailed status report and scheduled the next hearing for July 24.
The incident in question took place on November 11, 2024, when three women and three children, including a 10-month-old infant, were abducted by suspected Kuki Hmar militants from the Borobekra area in Jiribam.
Their bullet-riddled bodies were recovered four days later from the Barak River near the Manipur-Assam border.
The attack also claimed the lives of two other civilians, while several homes were set ablaze during the violence.
Despite the FIR being registered on the day of the incident, the lack of substantial movement in the investigation has raised serious concerns.
The court emphasised the importance of expediting the probe and holding those responsible accountable without further delay.
