Guwahati, Jan 8: A special CBI court in Guwahati has framed charges against six men and ordered their trial in connection with one of the most horrific episodes of Manipur’s ethnic violence.
The case relates to an incident in which three women were stripped naked and paraded before a mob, two of them gang-raped in broad daylight, and two relatives of one of the victims were killed on May 4, 2023.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing multiple cases linked to the unrest in Manipur, has taken over 27 FIRs so far — including 19 involving crimes against women, three cases of armoury looting, two murders, and one case each of rioting, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy.
Special judge Chatra Bhukhan Gogoi ruled that all six accused “be tried by this court.” The accused appeared through video conferencing from Manipur and pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out and explained to them.
CBI prosecutor Swayamjeet Sharma submitted that the investigation had uncovered sufficient material to establish a strong prima facie case against the accused.
Defence counsel, however, contended that the evidence on record did not justify framing charges for all the offences mentioned in the chargesheet.
The court directed that four of the accused — Huirem Herodash Meitei, Ningombam Tomba Singh alias Tomthin, Yumlembam Jiban Singh alias Naocha alias Sana, and Pukhrihongbam Suranjoy Meitei — currently lodged at Manipur Central Jail in Sajiwa, be transferred to Guwahati for physical production before the court and for signing the charges on January 16.
