Supreme Court Orders Forensic Probe into Manipur Violence Audio Recordings

Background on the Supreme Court’s Decision

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India made a significant ruling involving a 48-minute audio recording that allegedly implicates former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the ethnic violence that erupted in 2023. The court has mandated a thorough forensic examination to ascertain the authenticity of the recordings.

Forensic Analysis by the NFSU

The court directed the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) located in Gandhinagar to undertake a complete analysis of the recording along with Singh’s confirmed voice samples. The results of this analysis are to be presented to the court in a sealed cover, according to reports by PTI. The bench stated:

“The entire 48 minutes of the conversation in question along with the admitted voice recordings of the former Manipur CM are available… All the voice recordings furnished to the respondents shall also be included and forwarded to the National Forensic Science University Gandhinagar.”

Case Developments and Key Stakeholders

This legal case, which has been listed for hearing multiple times, gained traction recently when lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) Trust, submitted the complete transcript of the recording. Notably, the state itself, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, has just obtained the full audio file.

Previous Findings and Controversies

The NFSU had previously cleared Singh of any involvement, suggesting that the audio clips were manipulated. However, the court expressed its dissatisfaction in December, noting that only selected portions of the audio were analyzed rather than the complete recording, which raised concerns about the integrity of the initial findings.

Allegations Against N Biren Singh

The ongoing petition alleges that N Biren Singh played a pivotal role in fomenting violence against the Kuki-Zo community. According to Bhushan, the recordings indicate state machinery’s involvement in the ethnic riots, which have resulted in over 260 fatalities and displaced thousands since May 2023.

Context of the Ethnic Violence

The unrest began following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ that protested a ruling by the Manipur High Court concerning the Meitei community’s push for Scheduled Tribe status. Amid mounting political pressure, Singh resigned as Chief Minister in February 2024, with KOHUR accusing him of orchestrating violence in Kuki-dominated regions.

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