High Court stays warrant of arrest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 25 2019: The High Court of Manipur today passed an interim order to stay the warrant of arrest dated July 15, 2019 issued by the Manipur State Commission for Women against Ningthoujam (N) Sagolsem (O) Thambalsana Devi, w/o Sagolsem Goban of Lambal Makha Leikai.

The petitioner moved the case before the High Court of Manipur through Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh, praying for quashing the complaint case pending before the Manipur State Commission for Women and also to set aside the warrant of arrest dated July 15, 2019 issued by the Commission against her, said a press release issued by Thokchom Premlata Devi, Assistant Director, Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Manipur.

The circumstances leading to the present case is that in the evening of April 15 at about 6 pm while Thambalsana was returning home from her farm, a two-wheeler red coloured Wigo without a number plate driven by Khaidem Debachandra Singh, S/O Kh Ibohal Singh of Lambal Makha Leikai, Imphal West hit her.

The complainant further claimed that the said individual (Debachandra) verbally abused her, manhandled her and ran away from the spot.

Thambalsana chased him but she was stopped by about 4/5 people and two individuals namely, Thiyam Opendro Singh and Waikhom Inakhunba Singh of Lambal Awang Leikai on the pretext of intervention.

The two individuals also manhandled her and severe injuries were sustained and as such, she was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, Premlata alleged.

Though Thambalsana lodged a written complaint at Lamshang Police Station and an FIR was registered against the accused persons, the investigation was not satisfactory as the persons involved in the incident were not arrested nor the vehicle involved in the accident seized, she said, adding that she submitted an application to the Manipur State Commission for Women concerning the incident on April 25 and the same was registered as complaint case no 37 of 2019 .

Stating that the Commission recorded the statement of the petitioner on April 27 and again on May 27 and was made to give her statement of the entire incident in front of the three accused persons, Premlata said and added that the Commission warned Thambalsana of defamation if her allegations are proven to be false.

Premlata also said that the the Commission rejected an application filed by the petitioner on July 2 to withdraw her complaint and told the petitioner to appear before the Commission on July 17 .

The petitioner submitted an application on the same day for dispensing her appearance but, it was found that the Commission had already issued a warrant of arrest dated July 15, 2019 against the petitioner, Premlata said and added that the petitioner, aggrieved with the action of the Commission, moved the High Court of Manipur with a prayer to quash the proceedings of the Commission and set aside the warrant of arrest dated July 15, 2019 .

She continued that the High Court after hearing the learned counsel for both the parties passed an order for staying the warrant of arrest issued by the Commission.

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