A significant development has occurred in the legal proceedings concerning the ethnic violence that engulfed Manipur in 2023. The first case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to reach the trial stage is the horrific incident of three women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted. A Special CBI Court has formally framed charges in this case, marking a pivotal step towards justice.
Charges Framed in May 2023 Naked Parading Case
On January 2, the Special CBI Court of Justice Chatra Bhukhan Gogoi framed charges against six individuals: Huirem Herodash Meitei, Arun Khundongbam, Ningombam Tomba Singh, Yumlembam Jiban Singh, Pukhrihongbam Suranjoy Meitei, and Nameirakpam Kiran Meitei. The charges are extensive, covering rioting, unlawful assembly, murder, gang rape, outraging modesty, and violations of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. All six accused have entered pleas of not guilty.
The court order vividly described the events of May 4, 2023, stating that an unlawful assembly of 900-1000 people, suspected to be from Meitei youth organizations, entered B Phainom village in Kangpokpi district. Armed with sophisticated weapons, the mob engaged in arson, vandalism, looting, and physical and sexual assault. The victims identified the accused in a test identification parade held in September 2023.
While four of the accused remain in Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa, Khundongbam and Nameirakpam are currently out on bail. The court has ordered them to appear physically at the next hearing scheduled for January 16. Notably, the court observed that three other individuals named by the victims were neither charged nor declared absconders in the CBI's chargesheet.
Other Key Manipur Violence Cases Await Progress
The same Special CBI Court in Guwahati, where trials were moved by the Supreme Court in August 2023, is hearing several other prominent cases. However, their progress varies.
The case of two missing Meitei students—who disappeared in July 2023 and were presumed killed after photos of their bodies surfaced online—saw a chargesheet filed against four people: Lhingeneichang, Paominlun Haokip, Smalswan Haokip, and Paolunmang. However, charges are yet to be framed. The last hearing on December 16, 2025, was adjourned as the defense counsel stated certain digital documents were not supplied.
In the murder case of Lucy Marem, a Maring Naga woman killed in Imphal in July 2023, the CBI has submitted a chargesheet against nine individuals, including five women. A hearing for framing charges in this case was slated for a recent Friday.
Another case involves a young Kuki woman who alleged abduction, assault, and rape by four men on May 15, 2023. The CBI filed a chargesheet in May 2025, and the court took cognizance of charges including attempt to murder and violations of the SC/ST Act against two accused. At the last hearing on January 2, 2026, both accused were granted bail.
Path to Justice and Ongoing Scrutiny
The commencement of the trial in the naked parading case is a critical milestone, but it also highlights the protracted nature of justice in the complex aftermath of the Manipur violence. The court's detailed order underscores the scale and communal nature of the violence, explicitly stating the evidence describes "Meitei mobs targeting Kuki individuals."
The varying stages of different cases—from trial commencement to bail grants and pending charge framing—illustrate the legal challenges ahead. The nation's eyes remain on the Guwahati court as it navigates these sensitive cases, which are central to delivering accountability for the widespread violence that shook Manipur in 2023.
