Role of SoO militants in violence placed in SC
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, July 03 2023:
The issue of Kuki militants taking advantage of the SoO arrangement in "perpetuating violence on the Meitei community with sniper and assault rifles" was raised before the Supreme Court of India.
During the hearing of an application filed by the Delhi Tribal Forum, Advocate Ngangom Junior Luwang pointed out that head count of SoO militants and their weapons deposited need to be compared pre and post the present violence since such deadly weapons could have only come from SoO militants.
It was also specifically pointed out that "the present turmoil is not of swords and sticks, but of deadly guns and the needle of suspicion is on the SoO militants" .
The Chief Justice of India took serious note of this aspect and verbally asked the Solicitor General of India to respond.
The Solicitor General, however, pointed out that such an exercise could be a "little" difficult.
However, the Court agreed to hear the matter further on July 10.Colin Gonsalves, Advocate for the Manipur Tribal Forum, requested the Court to consider maintenance of law and order in Manipur through the Central forces only and to ensure that Central forces are not stopped by the Meira Paibis from discharging their duties.The State of Manipur through the Solicitor General undertook to file an updated status report before the next date of hearing on July 10 .