Updated on

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08 Jul 2025, 6:23 pm

GUWAHATI: The Manipur High Court has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file a progress report in connection with the November 11, 2024 killings of three women and three children -- all members of the Meitei community -- in Jiribam.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice K Somashekar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh, issued the direction during the hearing of a public interest litigation on Monday. The petitioner, Soram Tekendrajit, had sought justice for the victims.

The court said although an FIR was filed on November 11, 2024 itself, yet no progress report had been submitted and no charge filed by the investigation agency.

“There is no progress report submitted by the NIA represented by Mr. W Darakeshwor. The said counsel in this case seeks a short accommodation on the premises that he wants to submit a detailed progress report in terms of charge sheet. If charge sheet is not filed, this matter should be viewed seriously,” the court said.

The NIA counsel was directed to submit the detailed progress report in terms of charge sheet before the court. The matter will be heard again on July 24 next.

The six victims – all from the Meitei community – were allegedly abducted by Kuki militants from Borobekra in Jiribam on the same day Central Reserve Police Force and Manipur Police gunned down 10 Kuki “armed Kuki miscreants” in the area.

The bullet-riddled bodies of the six were recovered on different days from the Barak River along the Manipur-Assam border. The killings triggered widespread protests in the Imphal Valley during which mobs attacked the houses of several legislators.

Jiribam, located on Manipur’s westernmost boundary adjoining Assam’s Cachar district, was the last district to be affected by the ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kukis. It has a mixed population of Meiteis, Kukis and other tribal and non-tribal communities.