The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into 27 FIRs registered in connection with caste violence in Manipur.
According to the information, 19 of these cases are of crime against women.
Violence continues in Manipur for almost four months. More than 160 people have died here so far.
If sources are to be believed, CBI has so far registered FIR again in 27 cases handed over by the state police.
These include 19 cases of crime against women, three of armory robbery by mob, two of murder and one each of rioting-murder, kidnapping and general criminal conspiracy.
The agency has again registered these cases but has not shared much information due to the sensitivity of the current situation in the northeastern state.
According to sources, top CBI officials have called a team of 53 officers, including 29 women, from its various units across the country to investigate the cases.
Due to the division of society on caste lines in Manipur, the CBI faces the challenge of avoiding allegations of bias during the investigation.
What is the matter?
Caste violence had erupted in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts on May 3 in protest against the Meitei community’s demand for granting Scheduled Tribe status in Manipur.
The share of Meitei community in the state’s population is about 53 percent. They mainly live in Imphal Valley.
At the same time, tribal communities like Naga and Kuki constitute 40 percent of the population and most of them live in the hill districts.
