Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, on the floor of the House, on Friday disclosed alarming statistics regarding the registration and subsequent handling of criminal cases in the state over the past five years.
Responding to a query raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit, the chief minister revealed that a staggering total of 37,976 FIRs were filed between 2019 and 2024.
Out of these, only 2,332 cases have progressed to the stage of filing chargesheets, he added.
Breaking down the annual figures provided by the chief minister, it was noted that 3,625 FIRs were registered in 2019, followed by 2,958 in 2020, 3,126 in 2021, 3,854 in 2022, a sharp increase to 20,575 in 2023, and 3,838 FIRs up to the present year, 2024.
Notably, these figures encompass cases related to the ongoing crisis in Manipur, contributing to the complexity of law enforcement efforts in the region.
During the session, the opposition MLA expressed concern over the slow progress in filing charge sheets, attributing it to a potential rise in criminal impunity due to delayed justice.
He proposed stringent measures, suggesting that investigating officers failing to submit charge sheets within six months of FIR registration should face disciplinary actions.
Emphasising the importance of timely legal action, CM Biren highlighted the need to uphold justice and deter crime effectively.
He acknowledged the concerns raised by the opposition, citing challenges in the merit of many FIRs and the intricacies involved in cases related to the ongoing crisis.
He assured the Assembly that a dedicated monitoring cell has been established to oversee the investigation process conducted by investigating officers.
Additionally, Biren pledged to formulate an action plan to expedite the processing of FIRs with valid merit, aiming to enhance timely justice.
