Kuki rights body alleges Manipur Police sent ‘truncated’ audio for forensic tests
Seeks court-monitored probe into ‘Manipur tapes’
New Delhi: The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) has reiterated its demand for a court-monitored investigation into the alleged “Manipur tapes”, claiming that the Manipur Police submitted only heavily-edited portions of the controversial audio for forensic analysis instead of the full 48-minute-46-second recording. The allegation has been made in an affidavit sworn on November 20, The Wire reported.
KOHUR told the Supreme Court that the shortened clips sent to forensic laboratories — four files of 30 seconds, 36 seconds, 1 minute 28 seconds and 1 minute 47 seconds — amounted to “selective transmission of material”, raising concerns about the fairness and intent of the state police. The organisation argued that withholding the full recording prevented experts from verifying its authenticity, resulting in inconclusive forensic findings.
The case relates to audio clips purportedly featuring Manipur chief minister Biren Singh, in which he allegedly discusses matters linked to the state’s ethnic violence of 2023, including “looting of arms”, the “use of bombs”, and instructions to the police.
According to KOHUR, despite the Supreme Court expressing dissatisfaction with a May 5, 2025 report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) — after which the court ordered a fresh examination — neither the CFSL nor the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, could conclusively confirm whether the voice in the clips matched that of the chief minister. The NFSU reportedly found signs of editing and manipulation and declared the files unsuitable for reliable comparison.
KOHUR has contrasted these findings with a separate analysis conducted by Truth Labs, a private forensic agency that examined the complete 48-minute recording along with several voice samples available publicly. Truth Labs reportedly concluded that there was a 93% probability of the voice being that of Biren Singh.
The rights group has alleged that the inconclusive results from government forensic agencies were a direct consequence of the Manipur Police providing only edited and partial material. It argued that this should not prevent the police from setting a criminal investigation in motion.
“The lack of firm forensic conclusions cannot, by itself, be treated as a ground to stifle investigation at the threshold,” KOHUR said, urging the Supreme Court to appoint a court-monitored special investigation team. It added that an FIR must be registered based on the full audio and the Truth Labs report so that “the truth may emerge through a fair, independent and comprehensive investigation.”
The matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
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MP: Protest over Dhoudan dam continues for eighth day, work stalled
Chhatarpur (MP) (PTI): Tribals displaced due to the proposed Dhoudan dam under the ambitious Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Madhya Pradesh continued their protest for the eighth consecutive day on Sunday, halting work at the site.
Villagers affected by the project in Panna district, including Majhgawan and Runj, remained stationed at the construction site pressing for their demands.
Protesters have been demanding a compensation package of Rs 12.5 lakh for displaced families, similar to what they claim has been sought for those affected by other dams in the region.
Panna Additional Collector Alok Marko and SDM Satish Nagvanshi reached the protest site during the day and held detailed discussions with the agitators.
The officials said that the compensation had been disbursed in accordance with government guidelines and the land acquisition law.
"In the Runj project, 99 per cent payment has been completed, while more than 90 per cent compensation has been paid in villages affected by the Ken-Betwa project, including Kateri, Baleta, Gadra and Koni. If any name has been left out, we are ready to conduct a fresh survey based on documents," Nagvanshi said.
The administration had taken along a representative of the displaced persons to provide photocopies of records, he said.
Protesters are demanding that the earlier compensation package of Rs 5 lakh for Majhgawan and Vishramganj dams be increased to Rs 12.5 lakh, at par with that of the Dhodan dam displaced persons. The administration, however, has termed the demand "policy-wise impossible", as the relevant awards had been passed years ago.
Social activist Amit Bhatnagar, who is leading the agitation, rejected the administration's claims, alleging that only 60 per cent of the affected people have received compensation and there are major discrepancies.
"If gram sabhas and procedures have been conducted constitutionally, we will end the protest, but we will not part with even an inch of land through unconstitutional means," he said.
As the protest site falls within the core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve, the administration has tightened security arrangements.
Collector Parth Jaiswal appealed to the protesters to maintain law and order in the restricted zone of the tiger reserve and resolve the issue through dialogue.
He added that a survey is underway, and no eligible person will be deprived of compensation.
A team of doctors arrived at the site to examine the protesters, who were camping there with essential supplies, but returned without conducting check-ups.
