What Was Police Doing From May 4 To May 18? SC Raps Govt On Manipur Video

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Manipur Police why it took 14 days for the cops to register an FIR in connection with the May 4 women parade incident.

Hearing a batch of pleas filed regarding the violence in Manipur including the plea by two women who were paraded naked by a mob, the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, "The incident was of May 4 and the zero FIR was registered only on May 18. Why did the police take 14 days to register the FIR? What was the police doing from the 4th of May till 18th of May?"

On two women being paraded by the mob, the apex court said that it was not an isolated incident and stated that there would be several such instances, according to Live Law website.

"What stood in the way of police registering the FIR immediately on the 4th of May?," the CJI asked Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur Government.

He responded to the court that the incident was brought to notice on May 18 and the action was taken in 24 hours and the authorities arrested seven accused after the clip surfaced online.

On asking how many FIRs have been filed in total, Mehta informed the court that 20 FIRs have been filed in a particular station while over 6,000 FIRs have been filed in the state.

"Was the local police unaware that such an incident took place? And why was the FIR transferred to the Magistrate on the 20th June? After one month", the apex court asked.

"One more thing. You also said there are about 6000 FIRs. What is bifurcation? How many involve offences against women? How many involve other serious offences like murder, arson, burning down houses? What is the bifurcation between offences against body, offences against properties, offences against places of worship?", the CJI added.

No Confidence With CBI Investigation
The two women, who were paraded naked by a mob in Manipur on May 4, have filed petitions in the Supreme Court against the Centre and the state government.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing them, told the bench their opposition to the Central government's proposal of handing over the investigation to the CBI and relocating the trial to Assam. Sibal stated, "They (Union govt) have transferred the matter to CBI and they want to move the matter out of Assam. We're against both."

However, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta clarified that the Centre has only made a request to transfer the trial out of Manipur and has not specifically sought a transfer to Assam. Attorney General for India R Venkataramani said that he will personally monitor the investigation.

Sibal accused the police of collaborating with the perpetrators of violence. "They took them to the crowd, they left them to the crowd and the crowd took them to the field...", he added.

He said that the facts are evident from the statements of the victims under Section 161 CrPC. Tragically, the father and brother of one of the women were killed, and their bodies are yet to be recovered.

Protect All Or None?
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that justifying the incidents in Manipur based on similar occurrences elsewhere is not acceptable.

Responding to an advocate's concerns about crimes against women in Bengal, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, the CJI said, "There are crimes which are taking place against women across the country- that is our social reality. But here, we are dealing with something which is of unprecedented nature- violence in a situation of communal and sectarian strife. What suggestions do you have for Manipur? Mention that."

The lawyer said that all daughters have to be protected for which the CJI asked, "Are you saying protect all women or don't protect anyone?"