New Delhi | The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure the appearance of the third victim in the May 2023 Manipur sexual violence case before the special trial court in Guwahati for recording her testimony on the dates fixed by the court. The direction, issued on November 3 by a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, comes amid concerns over delays in the trial and the need to complete the examination of key victim-witnesses before the apex court takes up the pending bail-related proceedings involving the accused.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana noted that the case involved three victims apart from the complainant. While one of the victims has already been cross-examined, the testimony of the second victim is currently being recorded.

Directing the CBI to facilitate the appearance of the remaining victim, the bench said she should depose before the special trial court on November 13, 16 and 19. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter after November 19.

At the outset of the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare, appearing for the CBI, informed the court that the trial was progressing in accordance with the directions issued by the apex court.

However, senior advocate Shadan Farasat, representing accused Yumlembam Jiban Singh, raised concerns over the pace of the proceedings. He submitted that the trial had been delayed for various reasons despite the Supreme Court’s earlier directions. Singh has approached the court seeking bail.

The case relates to the horrific incident of May 4, 2023, during the ethnic violence in Manipur, when a mob allegedly stripped and paraded three Kuki-Zo women naked in Thoubal district. Two of the women were also allegedly gang-raped. The father and brother of one of the victims were reportedly killed during the incident.

The case triggered nationwide outrage after a video showing the women being paraded surfaced on social media in July 2023, drawing widespread condemnation and renewed attention to the breakdown of law and order during the ethnic conflict in the state.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing separate petitions filed by the CBI seeking cancellation of bail granted to two accused and challenging the denial of bail to another accused in connection with the case. The examination of the victim-witnesses has emerged as a significant aspect of the proceedings, particularly in view of the agency’s concerns about the possible impact of the accused remaining out on bail.

The CBI had earlier expressed apprehension that the release of the accused could influence the willingness of witnesses to testify. The agency had informed the apex court that the victims were sexually assaulted, paraded and video-recorded, and that the trial had already commenced.

On October 5, the Supreme Court had directed the CBI and the special trial court to ensure the appearance and examination of two key victim-witnesses on October 7, 9 and 28. It had also called upon all parties to cooperate with the trial proceedings.

The bench had indicated that it would be appropriate to consider the pending bail petitions after the examination of the two victim-witnesses. The latest direction to secure the testimony of the third victim is expected to facilitate further progress in the trial before the next round of hearings.

The proceedings are part of the Supreme Court’s continuing monitoring of cases arising from the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei community. The prolonged conflict has left hundreds dead, several hundred injured and thousands displaced.

In a related development, the apex court had on September 17 expressed concern over deaths reported from relief camps housing internally displaced people. It directed the Manipur chief secretary to place before it details of steps taken to investigate the deaths, initiate criminal proceedings wherever necessary and ensure the safety of camp residents.

The court had also asked the Manipur and Assam governments, along with other stakeholders, to consider establishing two special trial courts exclusively to deal with cases investigated by the CBI and the National Investigation Agency arising from the ethnic violence.