'Absolute breakdown of law and order in Manipur': Supreme Court summons DGP in viral video, ethnic clashes cases

A bench of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud asked the DGP of Manipur to submit tabulated data of FIRs based on the nature of offences.

"We will decide on the future course of action that day," the SC said.

Solictor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, senior law officer for Union of India, said there were 11 FIRs on sexual assault against women during ethnic strife in Manipur and all 11 FIRs can be entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for probe.

Earlier, the Centre had ordered a CBI probe into the incident of stripping and parading naked of two sexually assaulted women.

The SC after looking at the status report said, "From May till July end there was an absolute breakdown of constitutional machinery... a complete breakdown of law and order machinery..."

"There is no law and order left at all in Manipur and state police are incapable of investigation," the top court observed.

The court made the observation after taking note of the fact that there have been very few arrests made despite the registration of over 6,000 FIRs.

"The investigation is so lethargic. No arrests were made. Statements were recorded after such a lapse of time. This gives the impression that there was no law and a breakdown of constitutional machinery. It might be true that arrest could not be made as police could not enter the locality but even then there was a complete breakdown of law and order," the CJI said.

The court will take up the matter for further hearing on Aug 7.

[With UNI inputs]