The Manipur High Court has granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) a final extension of one month to file a chargesheet in the high-profile Jiribam killing case, in which six individuals — including three minors — were allegedly abducted and murdered in November 2024. The court warned that any further delay would be taken seriously.
The order was passed during the hearing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No 18 of 2024, clubbed with Miscellaneous Case (PIL) No 28 of 2025, filed by Soram Tikendrajit and another petitioner, seeking court-monitored progress in the investigation of the killings. The case has drawn widespread public and media attention due to its brutal nature and the lack of closure nearly eight months after the incident.
During the hearing, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Kempaiah Somashekar and Justice Ahantham Bimol Singh noted the “grave and shocking” nature of the case. The NIA submitted two sealed cover reports outlining the current status of the investigation, which the court ordered to be placed in the safe custody of the Registrar General until further orders.
Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Kh Tarunkumar informed the court that the incident occurred on November 11, 2024, when six individuals, including three children, were reportedly abducted under suspicious circumstances. In the days following the incident, all six bodies were recovered one by one from the Barak River in Jiribam district, triggering public outrage and demands for justice.
He further highlighted that although an FIR had been registered and the case was later handed over to the NIA, no chargesheet had been filed to date, raising serious questions about the pace and intent of the investigation. Tarunkumar urged the court to ensure time-bound accountability, citing the trauma faced by the victims’ families and the continued unrest in the affected community.
The NIA, represented by Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI) Kh. Samarjit, assured the court that the investigation had reached its final phase and that the agency was preparing to file the chargesheet under relevant sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Act, 2023.
Present in court were several senior NIA officials — DIGP D. Sharavan, SP Ashish Kumar, Public Prosecutor Lokesh Kumar, and DSP Vikas Kumar. Advocate General Lenin appeared for the Government of Manipur.
DSGI Samarjit requested more time on behalf of the NIA to finalise its findings and submit the chargesheet. Granting the request, the bench fixed the next date of hearing for August 25, and cautioned that failure to show progress by then would attract judicial scrutiny. The personal appearance of NIA officials was waived for the next hearing, unless otherwise directed.
The Jiribam killings remain one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent times in Manipur, highlighting concerns over law and order and the effectiveness of investigative processes. Civil society groups, including child rights organisations and human rights defenders, have repeatedly demanded transparency and swift justice for the victims.
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