In a significant development in the long-pending Jiribam killings case, the Manipur High Court on Monday gave the National Investigation Agency (NIA) a final one-month deadline to file a chargesheet. The court issued a stern warning that any further delay would not be tolerated and could attract judicial consequences. The case, which involves the abduction and brutal murder of six people, including three minors, in November 2024, has remained unresolved for over eight months, drawing criticism from civil society groups and causing deep anguish among the affected families. The victims’ bodies were reportedly recovered over time from the Barak River, raising suspicions of a larger conspiracy and organized crime behind the killings.The High Court’s order came during a hearing on Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 18 of 2024, which was jointly heard with Miscellaneous Case (PIL) No. 28 of 2025. The petitioners, led by Soram Tikendrajit, had urged the court to monitor the progress of the NIA investigation, citing delays and lack of transparency.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kempaiah Somashekar and Justice Ahantham Bimol Singh termed the case as “grave and shocking”, underlining the seriousness of the crime and the need for swift justice. The NIA submitted two sealed cover reports during the hearing, detailing the current status of the investigation. The court directed that the documents be kept in the custody of the Registrar General until further orders. Senior Advocate Kh Tarunkumar, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, reminded the court that the victims were abducted on November 11, 2024, under highly suspicious circumstances. “It has been nearly nine months, and justice continues to elude the families. The delay in filing a chargesheet is deeply troubling,” he said, urging the court to fix a strict timeline for the NIA to conclude its probe. Tarunkumar also expressed concern over the psychological trauma faced by the victims’ families and the simmering tension in Jiribam, a region already affected by ethnic unrest and insecurity.
In response, Deputy Solicitor General of India Kh. Samarjit, representing the Union government, informed the bench that the investigation was in its concluding phase. He assured the court that the NIA was preparing the chargesheet in compliance with the Criminal Procedure Code and the recently enacted Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.Several senior NIA officers, including DIGP D. Sharavan, SP Ashish Kumar, Public Prosecutor Lokesh Kumar, and DSP Vikas Kumar, were present in court. Advocate General Lenin represented the Government of Manipur. While accepting the request for a final extension, the High Court set August 25, 2025, as the next date of hearing. However, the bench emphasized that no further delay would be entertained. “The court expects substantial progress in the investigation. If the chargesheet is not filed by the next hearing, we will be compelled to take appropriate judicial action,” the bench stated.
