The Manipur High Court in the case International Meeteis Forum vs. State of Manipur observed and has issued notice to the officials of Union Government, State Government, State Police, Army and the Assam Rifles on a contempt petition moved by the International Meeteis Forum. It has been alleged by the Forum that the authorities have violated the order which is passed by the High Court on August 3, 2023 as per which they were bound to maintain status quo at the site were mass burial of Kuki-Zo community members who lost their lives in the ethnic clash was proposed.
The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma in the case observed and has issued the notice to Chief Secretary of Manipur Government, Commissioner (Home) of the Manipur Government, Director General of Police of Manipur, Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur District, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, General Officer Commander in Chief of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, Inspector General of Assam Rifles etc.
Further, the said court also seek response from the Chairman of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum and the Convenor of the Joint Philanthropic Organizations.
The petition stated that the proposed burial site at S. Boljang of Haolai Khopi village, Churachandpur, is located within a government complex where a sericulture farm operates and it has been emphasized by them that the land in question is government-notified and a status quo ante had to maintained at the said spot as per the directives of the court.
It has also been alleged in the petition that despite the Court order, the tensions escalated as locals, particularly women, took to the streets to protest and sought access to the intended burial site.
The petitioner in the plea claimed that they had obtained drone footage of the location, revealed the destruction of the structures, and contended that the Manipur Police, Manipur government, Union government, Army, and the planners of the intended burial had displayed contempt by deliberately disregarding the court’s directives.
Before the court, the petitioner submitted that while utilizing the Government Sericulture Farm land exclusively for the Kuki-Zo community’s mass burial without proper legal authorization is a malicious and improper act.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on August 30, 2023.