Supreme Court ‘Shocked’ Over Manipur Relief Camp Deaths, Seeks Probe Into Unnatural Cases

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed shock over reports of deaths, including unnatural deaths, among people living in relief camps in Manipur and directed the state government to provide a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the cases.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, asked the Manipur Chief Secretary to file an affidavit detailing the deaths, investigations carried out so far and measures taken to protect internally displaced persons (IDPs) staying in the camps.

The direction came while the court was hearing petitions related to the investigation, protection, relief and rehabilitation of people affected by the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, including cases involving sexual violence.

The bench sought details of the unnatural deaths referred to in reports placed before it, including post-mortem reports and documents establishing the causes of death. The court also questioned why post-mortems had reportedly been conducted in only a limited number of cases. Some reports before the court referred to 20 post-mortems among 34 reported deaths, while another set of material specifically highlighted 25 unnatural deaths.

The court was particularly concerned by a reported case involving an alleged sexual assault. It sought details of the circumstances surrounding such deaths and asked what preventive and remedial measures had been taken to protect the safety and dignity of people living in the camps.

The bench also questioned the compensation reportedly paid to families of people who died unnatural deaths. The court took note of figures in the range of ₹20,000 to ₹30,000, seeking an explanation for the payments.

The Manipur State Legal Services Authority was directed to ensure that FIRs are registered in cases of unnatural deaths and that investigations in cases where FIRs have already been filed are completed expeditiously. It was also asked to submit a status report to the court.

Beyond the deaths, the court sought information on medical facilities, basic daily necessities and security arrangements in the relief camps, underlining that displaced people require continued protection and access to essential services. The Supreme Court is also monitoring the wider investigation and trial process arising from the 2023 violence.