May 3 to Jul 30 : Over 6 thousand FIRs lodged
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2023: Altogether 6,523 FIRs have been registered in different police stations of Manipur from May 3 to July 30 pertaining to the ongoing violence as per the status report submitted by the State Government before the Supreme Court.

The details of the status report were made available to the media only today.

According to the status report of the State, 72 cases were registered in different police stations for murder, three of rape/gang rape, one of rape and murder and six of outraging the modesty of women and child, 4454 of arson, 4148 of loot, 4694 of destruction of properties, 584 of destruction of public properties, 46 of destruction of places of worship and another 100 cases of grievous hurt.

The status report conveyed that there is an overlap of offences in certain FIRs of murder/rape/outraging of modesty and destruction of properties.

The submitted report further mentioned that 4766 FIRs were registered in the police station of original jurisdictions while 11414 cases were registered as Zero FIRs.

Of all the Zero FIRs, 10382 have been transferred to the police stations of respective jurisdictions.

6621 Zero FIRs have converted to regular FIRs by the respective police station, it added.

It may be mentioned that another Zero FIR was registered at Bishnupur women police station on August 9 pertaining to alleged gangrape of a Meitei woman who fled persecution from Churachandpur on May 3 .

On cases of murder, rape and outraging modesty, a total of 193 witnesses statements have been recorded, statement of three victims have been recorded under CrPc 164 and arrested 16 accused, it added.

With regard to arson, loot and destruction of properties, 1366 witness statements have been recorded and 14 persons arrested, the status report said and added that 10 witness statements have also been recorded in connection with the destruction of places of worship but there is no arrest as of yet.

It went on to state that 12 persons have been arrested for inflicting grievous injuries to people after taking statements from 56 witnesses.

The three Judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, had on August 7, directed the constitution of Special Investigation Teams to investigate cases related to murder and other heinous crimes.

As per the ruling of the apex Court, the SITs are to be headed by an officer not below the rank of SP and include two Inspectors, six Sub Inspectors and 12 Constables.

For cases related to rape, outrage of modesty and other forms of sexual assault, the SITs must be headed by an officer not below the rank of SP and incorporate one female Inspector, six female Sub Inspectors and four women Constables in the investigation.

The Supreme Court had also directed that six SITs each should be constituted for Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kakching, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.

For Thoubal and Tengnoupal district, there will be 3 SITs each.

The constituted SITs are to be supervised weekly by an officer of the Rank of DIG/ IG/ ADG and in addition the DGP has to monitor the cases fortnightly.

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