In the wake of the ongoing unrest, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to submit an updated and detailed status report on the ethnic clashes in the violence-hit state.
The court will hear the matter next on July 10.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra was hearing the petitions filed by Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi and Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi had sought for the protection of the Kuki tribe by the Indian Army, while the other petition was challenging the direction of the Manipur HC's decision to consider the inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and Manipur government, told the SC that the situation is improving in the state “slowly”.
The SC had directed the government to submit the detailed report including measures taken to curb violence, rehabilitation camps details for those affected by the clashes, and deployment of forces.
Meanwhile, fresh violence was reported on Sunday, with three 'village volunteers' loosing their lives and five injured in Bishnupur district.
According to the police, the incident took place in Khoijumantabi village. 'Village volunteers' are those guarding the area in a makeshift bunker.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh visited the spot and took stock of the situation.
Also, the national highway, which was blocked for nearly two months, was lifted on Sunday by the United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO).
The two organisations, former militant groups, in a joint statement said that the blockade on the highway has been lifted with immediate effect, following an appeal by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Shah had expressed his deep concern over the violence in the state.
Manipur has two national highways -- NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam).The NH-2 has been blocked by Kuki organisations since May 3. It was temporarily opened for Shah's visit in late May.
The two groups have taken the decision to lift the blockade following a recent meeting of the UPF, KNO and other Kuki groups with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati, reported PTI.
Over 100 people have so far lost their lives in ethnic clashes that broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur on May 3.
