Govt Cites Zero Tolerance Towards Crimes Against Women: CBI to Probe Manipur Violence

NEW DELHI: In a recent affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the Indian government declared its unwavering commitment to combating crimes against women, expressing "zero tolerance" towards such heinous acts. The case under scrutiny involves a viral video depicting the sexual assault and violence on two tribal women in Manipur. With the consent of the Manipur government, the Central government decided to transfer the investigation of this incident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an independent investigating agency.

The government further detailed its proactive measures to bring the culprits to justice. Multiple police teams were deployed to conduct mass operations at various locations in pursuit of the identified suspects. Additionally, an officer of the rank of an additional superintendent of police was entrusted with the investigation, under the constant supervision of other senior police officials.

The decision to transfer the case to the CBI was made after the Manipur government recommended the move to the Department of Personnel and Training (DOP&T), with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) subsequently endorsing it. The Central government believes that such heinous offenses must not only be treated with utmost seriousness but also that justice should be visible to all, thereby acting as a deterrent against similar crimes nationwide.

The government updated the court that during the investigation, seven main accused have already been apprehended and are currently in police custody for further examination. In light of the gravity of the incident and to ensure an unbiased trial, the Centre recommended that the trial be conducted outside the state of Manipur, with completion within six months.

In response to the shocking video, the Supreme Court had expressed deep concern and vowed to take action against the perpetrators. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, termed the incident "simply unacceptable" and stressed that using women as instruments of violence is a gross abuse of constitutional rights and human dignity.

"Simply unacceptable. Using women as an instrument in an area of communal strife to inflict gender violence is deeply disturbing. This is the grossest of constitutional abuse and human rights violations. We are deeply disturbed by the videos which have emerged. If the government does not act, we will," CJI said.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the online video, the bench called upon both the Central and State governments to appraise the court of the steps taken to address the issue. The court insisted on accountability for the culprits and emphasized the need for preventive measures to thwart such incidents in the future.

The Supreme Court will hear a batch of pleas concerning the Manipur violence, which involves clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The court has taken cognizance of the case and is determined to ensure that justice is served and that violence against women is eradicated.

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