The Supreme Court on Monday sought an updated status report from the Manipur government on the ongoing violence, after a tribal outfit alleged inaction by the state against militants giving death threats to tribals on TV and social media.

Senior advocate Colin Gonzalves, appearing for the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi (MTFD), told the apex court during a brief hearing that some militant leaders had openly issued threats during TV interviews against the Kukis, yet the state chose not to file a single FIR or arrest them. He added that militants were also using Facebook to issue threats.

Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, representing the Manipur government, urged Gonzalves not to communalise the issue and claimed that the law-and-order situation in the state was under control and curfew was in force for only five hours a day.

A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra posted the matter for further hearing to July 10 and asked the state to file an updated status report by then. The government had earlier filed a status report on the violence that began on May 3.

“Mr Tushar Mehta, learned solicitor-general, has submitted that the state of Manipur will file an updated status report setting out the measures which have been taken and indicating the present situation. List the matters on July 10, 2023,” the bench said.

Gonzalves alleged that “the situation has become very extreme”. Mehta disputed this and said police and paramilitary forces had been deployed to prevent clashes. He said around 114 CAPF battalions were assisting the local police and the Indian Reserve Police force.

“My learned friend may not give this a communal angle — like Christians or something. We are dealing with human beings,” the solicitor-general submitted.

Gonsalves told the bench that during the earlier hearing too, the state had given a similar assurance when the death toll was around 20. The toll has now crossed 130.

He urged the court to direct the solicitor-general to ensure that the state and the Centre take a headcount of the militants operating in the disturbed areas.

“There can’t be a headcount because militants can’t be numbered,” Mehta responded.

Gonzalves told the bench that at least two militant organisations had in Facebook posts openly said “kill the Kukis”.

“They say we will annihilate them. But no FIR is registered, no arrests had been made and no action has been taken against them,” he complained.

The senior counsel added: “As long as these armed groups are not disbanded, it will escalate. Last night, three tribals were killed and one was beheaded. This is the first incident of beheading of tribals. The Kukis are not attacking. The Kukis are defending. Meities are crossing the line. The army has stated that they’re not being allowed to do their job.”

However, an advocate appearing for the Meities complained that Kuki militants were defying the curfew and directions to remain within camps, and were using rifles to kill Meities.

CJI Chandrachud said the bench would examine the updated status report to be filed by the state and take up the matter on July 10.

The MTFD had filed a PIL in the top court last month seeking judicial directions to stem the violence in the state following an order passed by Manipur High Court asking the Centre to consider the grant of Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Meitei community. The petition had sought the deployment of the army, following which the apex court had recorded an assurance from the solicitor-general that adequate steps would be taken to protect people and address the issues raised by the forum.