Manipur High Court picks up NIA for inactivity in Jiribam Massacre probe

The Supreme Court of Manipur criticized the National Investigation Agency (NIA) because of the absence to make some progress in the probe in the massacre of Jiribam, in which six Meiti citizens – including three women and three children – were brutally killed on November 11, 2024.

The attack was reportedly carried out by Kuki-Har militants.

A Division Bank of the Supreme Court of Manipur, consisting of supreme judge K Somaseekhar and Justice Ahanhem Bimol Singh, published the guideline on Monday while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) submitted by Soram Tekendrajit, who demand justice for the victims and rapid action against the dearers.

Although a first information report (FIR) was submitted on the same day of the incident, the court noted the concern that the NIA did not succeed in submitting a progress report or even after seven months to submit a complaint.

Senior Advocate KH Tarun Kumar appeared to the court for the submitter to intervene, and quoted inactivity of the investigation body.

In response, W Darakeshwor, Senior Public Counsel who represented the NIA, sought a brief postponement and assured the bank that a detailed progress report, preferably with a complaint sheet, would soon be submitted.

While given time, the court made it clear that constant delay will be taken seriously. The case was mentioned for the next hearing on July 24, 2025.

The case had drawn a lot of attention in the state, with many social groups of responsibility and rapid justice demanding in the aftermath of the brutal murders.

After months of silence about violence in the state torn by the battle since the violence of 3 May 2023, the Jiribam incident revived the tension in the state.

Since 3 May 2023, more than 250 people have been killed and more than 60,000 have been displaced for ethnic violence in the northeastern state.

The imposition of the President in Manipur on 13 February this year, however, saw renewed rehabilitation efforts, whereby the government announced an objective of December 2025 for the resettlement of internal displaced persons (IDPs).

– ends