Manipur violence: SC directs Kuki body to produce material to establish authenticity of audio clips against CM

The Supreme Court on Friday directed a Kuki organisation to produce material to indicate authenticity of leaked audio clips, on the basis of which it filed a plea seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the alleged role of the Manipur CM in the ethnic violence in the state.

A Bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it had a duty as the constitutional court and did not appreciate any attempt to brush things under the carpet.

It asked advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, to place material on record to show credibility of the audio clips. “Before the court can consider the submissions which have been made on the basis of an audio clip, we deem it appropriate to grant the petitioner to file before this court the material indicating the authenticity of the clips,” the Bench said.

At the outset, Bhushan submitted that the recorded conversation prima facie shows the complicity and the involvement of the state machinery in violence against Kuki Zo community.

He claimed the clips had “disturbing conversations” and the CM could be heard instigating the violence and protecting the attackers. He alleged that the CM not only fuelled the violence, but also allowed arms and ammunition to be looted.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, opposed the plea, saying the organisation should approach the Manipur High Court.

Over 200 people were killed in clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities that broke out in May last year