Manipur violence: Central government gives inquiry commission more time to submit report | Latest news from India

The Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba, was set up on June 3, 2023. The panel, which also includes retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar, has been tasked with investigating the causes and spread of the violence and unrest against members of various communities taking place in Manipur since May 3, 2023.

The Commission should submit its report to the central government “as soon as possible but not later than six months after its first meeting”.

The new communication states: “The Commission will submit its report to the central government as soon as possible and no later than 20 November 2024.”

According to the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry, it is to examine the course of events and all facts related to the violence. It is also to examine whether there were any negligence or breach of duty on the part of the authorities/persons responsible in this regard and whether the administrative measures taken to prevent and combat the violence and unrest were adequate.

The Commission of Inquiry examines complaints or allegations brought to it by individuals or associations.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs notification dated 4 June 2023, major violence broke out in Manipur on 3 May 2023, as a result of which many residents of the state lost their lives and several others were seriously injured.

Their houses and properties were burned down by arson and many of them became homeless, it was said.

The notification said that the Government of Manipur on 29 May 2023 recommended the constitution of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the causes and related factors of the crisis and unfortunate incidents on 3 May 2023 and thereafter under the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

On the recommendation of the Manipur government, the central government is of the view that it is necessary to constitute a commission of inquiry to investigate a matter of public interest, namely the incidents of violence in Manipur, it said.

Manipur has seen repeated outbreaks of violence since ethnic clashes broke out on May 3. The ethnic violence first erupted after a ‘tribal solidarity march’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Since May last year, more than 220 people have been killed and thousands left homeless in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis of the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the surrounding mountains.