Manipur Violence| Supreme Court Directs Chief Secretary To Explain Unnatural Deaths In Relief Camp And Meagre Compensation To Affected Families

The Supreme Court directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to file a detailed affidavit explaining 34 unnatural deaths in state relief camps and the disparity in compensation awarded to the victims' next of kin.

On the last date of hearing, the Court had asked the court-appointed committee headed by Justice Gita Mittal to verify claims that around 24,000 families affected by the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence are yet to receive benefits under government rehabilitation and welfare schemes. The Court had also asked the Manipur and Assam governments and others to consider setting up two special trial courts to exclusively hear CBI and NIA cases.

The Court perused Report No. 47 dated 14th August 2026 filed by the three-member committee. The report highlighted about mortality in relief camps and the release of compensation. According to the report, the committee has referred to a news item published on 7th June 2026 in a newspaper, stating that 25 internally displaced persons sheltered in relief camps across Manipur suffered unnatural deaths.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana ordered, "Apart from the information sought by the Three-Member Committee, from where we are now through...to know about the, about one of the incidents of unnatural death resulting from sexual assault, we direct the Chief Secretary of the State of Manipur to furnish the requisite information with respect to all the 25 unnatural deaths reported in one of the newspapers, along with post-mortem reports and other requisite information identifying the cause of their death, and what preventive measures or remedial action have been taken to ensure that internally displaced persons sheltered in the relief camps... that the requisite safety measures of internally displaced persons sheltered in the relief camps have been taken, and their safety with dignity and respect has been ensured. The requisite medical facilities and other day-to-day necessities are also required to be made available for all and one in the relief camps, especially to the internally displaced persons. The comprehensive details of all such amenities be also furnished to us."

Advocates Vrinda Grover and Nazeem Pasha appeared for the Petitioners, while ASG Aishwaya Bhati appeared for the CBI.

Chief Justice Kant asked the State, "Though it did not contain the requisite details, however, one unfortunate incident of unnatural death resulting from sexual assault was reported by the District Legal Services Authority, Churachandpur, which was forwarded on 4th July 2026 to the committee...It seems that it is still awaiting. This committee has asked your Chief Secretary for this information on 4th July 2026, and the information is very serious. There are 25 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are stated to have died of unnatural deaths in the relief camps. One incident which has been reported to the committee is again very, very shocking. Because of sexual assault, one victim has died—one of the victims. And the information was sought on 4th July. Why is that information not being furnished?"

The AG of the State of Manipur replied, "I have been informed about the same this morning before the proceeding of this Court. My Lord, I'll look into it. I'll address the same immediately...We'll expedite."

It was recorded that the committee sent an email on 11th June 2026 to the office of the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, seeking information on the district-wise number of deaths in relief camps since 3rd May 2023. Some information was supplied on 2nd July 2026, but it did not contain the requisite details. Hence, another request was sent to the state government on 4th July 2026 to furnish the information in a prescribed format.

The Court also took note of the status report filed by Dattatray Padsalgikar, former Director General of Police, Maharashtra, appointed to supervise the investigation of cases by CBI. The report highlighted the law and order situation during the period from 1st August 2026 to 7th September 2026, inter alia pointing out that a campaign for justice and pre-delimitation, update of the NRC before conducting census in the state, was organized which led to a two-day shutdown in the state, followed by a general strike for two days.

Thereafter, the state took a decision to defer the census till after implementing the NRC in Manipur, and the State Assembly also reaffirmed through a resolution. The Report said that the agitation has now toned down, as the peace initiative taken by the state government received a positive response.

It was also stated in the report that the initiative prompted two MLAs from the Kuki-Zo community to attend the Manipur Legislative Assembly session in Imphal after a break of three years. The road transport of public passenger services along the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway No. 2 has also successfully resumed since 21st August 2026. However, there is an area where some communal attacks continue to take place, resulting in the death of three persons.

"There is an overall recovery of weapons. The overall recovery of weapons stands at 8,901 arms, 1,06,699 ammunitions, and 6,390 explosives", the Court added in its order.

Ethnic violence in Manipur broke out on May 3, 2025, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts. The protest was held against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence claimed over 260 lives and left thousands of people displaced.

ASG Bhati submitted that a separate status report in respect of the FIR cases handled by the SITs was placed on record. It was pointed out that there are total 42 SIT teams of Manipur Police that were constituted, and investigations by these SITs were monitored and supervised by Dattatray Padsalgikar. These SITs were entrusted 3,020 cases for investigation, out of which charge sheets have been filed in 302 cases, closure reports have been filed in 1,583 cases, whereas 1,135 cases are still under investigation. Trial has commenced in 32 cases.

It was also submitted that the CBI has filed a plea seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the accused persons. The Court said that these matters will be taken up separately. Accordingly, the Court segregated these matters.

The Court also ordered, "Ms. Aahana Devi, who is working as an IAS officer and Coordinator... has sent her response through email dated 17th July 2026, inter alia pointing out that 640 deaths have taken place in relief camps across 8 districts, out of which 34 are unnatural deaths in the relief camps across 8 districts. Post-mortems were conducted only in 20 cases. Similarly, 25 criminal cases have been registered owing to unnatural deaths, but prosecution has commenced only in four cases. No details concerning the remaining have been furnished to her as a Nodal Officer...The report shockingly highlights that only Rupees 20,000 to 30,000 has been paid as compensation to the next of kin, as compared to others where Rupees 5 to 10 lakhs have been paid."

The Court directed the Chief Secretary of the State of Manipur to file an affidavit explaining the details of the deaths that have taken place in relief camps, especially those of unnatural death.

"It must be explained as to why post-mortems were conducted only in 20 cases instead of all the 34 cases. Similarly, the reasons as per the post-mortem report for the unnatural deaths be also explained. The State Government is also obligated to explain as to why a meagre amount of Rupees 20,000 to 30,000 has been paid to the next of kin of the internally displaced persons who met with unnatural death while they were sheltered in the relief camps", it was added.

The Court directed the Manipur State Legal Services Authority to immediately intervene by facilitating the registration of FIRs for every unnatural death recorded in the relief camps. The Authority must ensure that thorough investigations are conducted to definitively determine the precise cause behind each of these fatalities.

Accordingly, the matter was listed for a further date.

On July 24, 2026, the Court had proposed constituting Special Courts—in concurrence with the State of Manipur and the High Courts of Manipur and Gauhati—to conduct trials on a day-to-day basis in a batch of petitions relating to the ongoing investigations and trials.

The Bench had also directed legal aid counsels and Legal Services Authorities to ensure the supply of chargesheets to victims' families no later than one week from being contacted, while addressing key issues concerning bail applications, missing persons, investigation hurdles, and the protection of vandalized properties.

Previously, the Court said that the ongoing trial in the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence needs to be expedited and sought a status report from authorities.

On March 24, 2026, the Court had issued notice in the plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation challenging the judgment passed by the Guwahati High Court granting bail to these Accused persons.

In February, 2026, the Court had asked the CBI, which is probing 11 FIRs related to the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence cases, to submit a status report within two weeks.

On July 20, 2023, the Apex Court took suo-moto cognisance of the matter after a video of the assault surfaced online and was widely shared months later, triggering nationwide outrage. The violence was preceded by earlier tensions over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Cause Title: Central Bureau of Investigation v. Arun Khundongbam & Ors. and other connected matters [SLP (Crl.) No. 5756/2026]