New Delhi, 03 November (H.S.): A fresh legal development has emerged in the horrific case involving the alleged stripping, parading and sexual assault of three women from the Kuki-Zo community during the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur. Yumlembam Jiban Singh, one of the prime accused in the case, has approached the Supreme Court seeking bail, citing the prolonged delay in the trial. He is accused of recording the video of the incident and circulating it among the other accused. The matter was heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

Appearing on behalf of the accused, senior advocate Shadan Farasat argued that despite repeated directions from the Supreme Court to expedite the proceedings, the trial before the lower court had been progressing at an extremely slow pace. He urged the court to consider granting bail to the accused in view of the delay.

During the hearing, the court was informed that, of the three principal victims in the case, the statement and cross-examination of only the first victim had been completed so far.

The Supreme Court directed the CBI to ensure that the relevant witnesses and victims are produced before the trial court in Guwahati on November 13, 16, 18 and 19, so that the process of recording their evidence can be completed without interruption.

The court clarified that the bail petition filed by accused Jiban Singh would be listed for further hearing only after this essential process of recording the witnesses' evidence had been completed.

The incident dates back to May 4, 2023, when a violent mob allegedly stripped women from the Kuki community and paraded them through the streets in Manipur's Thoubal district, where they were also subjected to gang rape. The video of the incident went viral on social media in July 2023, triggering widespread outrage across the country. Following this, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar