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Kuki Group Says Manipur Police Sent Edited Clips to SC

The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust told the Supreme Court on Friday that the Manipur Police forwarded only short, edited audio clips to the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, instead of the complete 48-minute recording that the petitioner had submitted. The trust says the selective transmission rendered the forensic analysis incomplete and “misleading”, and it has renewed its plea for an independent, court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged state involvement in the 2023 ethnic violence.

Petitioners allege selective transmission

In a detailed affidavit filed in W.P.(C) No. 702/2024, the organisation  through chairman Houlim Shokhapa Mate said the Cyber Crime unit of the Manipur Police sent only four short clips of 30 seconds, 1 minute 28 seconds, 36 seconds and 1 minute 47 seconds to NFSU, and omitted the full 48-minute 46-second file that the petitioner had placed before the Court in a supplementary affidavit dated 22 January 2025.

The affidavit alleges that neither the petitioner nor its counsel were informed that only fragments had been transmitted. “Consequently, the NFSU could not verify the continuity or authenticity of the original recording,” the filing says, adding that even the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) was unable to examine the material for the same reason.

Forensic report found clips tampered

NFSU’s report dated 10 October 2025, the affidavit notes, concluded that the files it received exhibited discontinuities and processing traces and were “tampered” or “AI-generated”, and therefore unfit for scientifically reliable voice comparison. The petitioner contends this finding must be read in the light of what was actually sent to the lab — short, non-continuous segments — rather than the original full file.

Contrasting forensic analyses

The trust contrasts the NFSU findings with an earlier veterinary of evidence conducted by a private laboratory, Truth Labs. According to the affidavit, Truth Labs examined two pen drives submitted by the petitioner on 14 November 2024 — one containing the full contested recording and another containing broadcasts of the Chief Minister’s speeches — and concluded on 18 January 2025 that the voices matched with 93 percent probability after auditory, acoustic, spectrographic and statistical tests.

The affidavit argues Truth Labs performed a full spectrographic and statistical analysis on complete material and therefore its conclusions deserve investigatory attention, rather than dismissal because the later government lab report could not perform voice comparison on cut fragments.

Transcripts and earlier disclosure

Petitioners say transcripts of the 48-minute recording were first published in August 2024 and allegedly suggested the involvement of state machinery in the 2023 clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities. The filing adds that the Justice Lamba Commission of Inquiry had received the full recording but forwarded a shorter version to Truth Labs after excising portions to protect identities.

What the petition seeks

The Kuki Organisation is asking the Supreme Court to order a court-monitored SIT to examine the recording, the forensic evidence and the broader allegations that the highest functionary of the State may have been complicit. The affidavit stresses that the propriety and completeness of material forwarded for forensic testing is a matter for investigators, and that the inconclusiveness of the NFSU report should not end investigative steps.

“Even if, upon thorough investigation, no material is ultimately found, a closure report may be filed in accordance with law. However, a criminal case must be set in motion based on the audio recording and the Truth Labs report, so that the truth may emerge through a fair, independent, and comprehensive investigation,” the affidavit states.

Next steps

The Supreme Court will consider the pleadings and may issue directions on forensic re-examination, custodial chains, and whether an independent SIT is warranted. For context on forensic procedures and court oversight, see the Supreme Court of India portal and the National Forensic Science University site for laboratory standards and protocols.

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