SC takes exception to 31 unnatural deaths in Manipur relief camps | India News
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Thursday took strong exception to 31 unnatural deaths in Manipur’s relief camps – set up after the eruption of Kuki-Meitei ethnic clashes in 2023 to shelter internally displaced persons (IDPs) – including one due to sexual assault.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the state govt to file an affidavit giving details of the causes of death as ascertained through postmortem reports and the investigations to identify the culprits. It also questioned the state for giving a meagre Rs 30,000 as compensation to the next of kin even though the state had paid Rs 4 lakh-5 lakh to relatives of victims of the ethnic clashes.This order was passed after perusing Justice Gita Mittal Committee’s report. Placed before the court by senior advocate Vibha D Makhija, it cited a TOI report of June 7 which published a news report on 731 deaths, including 25 unnatural deaths, in relief camps as disclosed by the state home department. TOI had also reported that 43,000 IDPs were residing in various relief camps.Makhija said when the committee sought details of the deaths, the state initially provided sketchy statistics. Only after prodding did govt provide the required information. Jiribam and Churachandpur relief camps recorded nine unnatural deaths each; six were reported in Bishnupur, four in Imphal West, two in Imphal East and one in Kakching.The bench directed the state chief secretary to submit what remedial measures would be taken to prevent such incidents. It also asked the state to detail the steps taken to expedite investigations into the FIRs.
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Justice Mittal Committee informed the court that the mother of the sexual assault victim in Churachandpur relief camp was given Rs 2.5 lakh as compensation but in most cases, the next of kin got only Rs 30,000. In Kangpokpi relief camp, where 128 IDPs died natural deaths, no compensation was paid to their kin, it said.
