The Supreme Court has received a plea from the Manipur Tribal Forum expressing concerns about potential violence targeting the Kuki-Zo tribal community in Manipur following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

According to the application, the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur has observed a concerning trend over the past six months: the increasing arming of assailant groups. Specifically, one of these groups, the Arambai Tenggol, is alleged to have issued threats of annihilation against the Kukis.

It is claimed that Dattatray Padsaligikar, the Maharashtra police officer appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee certain investigations during the previous outbreak of violence, has been uncooperative, according to the allegations.

"We approach this court with folded hands, seeking urgent measures that may need to be more extensive than previous interventions, considering the imminent threat. This application is filed seeking urgent relief concerning a series of brutal attacks on the Kuki-Zo community. Despite numerous appeals to the respected DGP (Dattatray) Padsaligikar and the passage of time, no actions seem to have been taken."

The forum contends that despite sending five notes to Padsalgikar regarding recent instances of violence and arms seizures, the victim community remains uninformed while the perpetrators continue to roam freely. Additionally, the forum has asserted that no action has been taken regarding the alleged beheading of a Kuki boy.

In one of the notes addressed to Padsalgikar, it is stated:

"...videos easily available on the internet showing the beheading of a young Kuki boy David Thiek who was beheaded and the person who beheaded was none other than the PRO of the sitting MLA of Kumbi Assembly constituency Shri S. Premchandra Singh. He walked down the street holding the severed head by the hair and then stuck the head on a bamboo fence. We are shocked that after writing to you there has been no response on such a barbaric act..."

The Supreme Court is currently handling a series of pleas concerning the violence in Manipur. Previously, it established an all-woman judicial committee led by former Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Gita Mittal, to supervise the investigation into the violence.

The Chief Justice of India clarified that the apex court does not intend to scrutinize every aspect of the state administration.

In November 2023, the Court had directed the Manipur government to ensure the decent and dignified burial of unidentified and unclaimed bodies.

In August of the previous year, the Court instructed Padsaligikar to supervise the police investigations into cases of sexual violence. The most recent application by the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi was filed through advocate Satya Mitra.

The applicants have requested that the reports submitted by Padsaligikar and the Justice Mittal Committee be disclosed. Additionally, they seek the arrest of the leaders of the Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun groups to prevent further acts of violence against the Kuki-Zo community.