PREPAK ex-chairman murder case NIA Court frames charges against four accused
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 16 2017:
Special Court NIA Manipur today framed charges against four accused in connection with the killing of PREPAK ex-chairman Ningombam Nabachandra, under various sections to carry out due trial .
The charge order was announced today by Golmei Gaiphuishillu, Special Judge, NIA Manipur, in an Open Court after charge hearing against all four accused of the case on November 2, 24 and December 7 .
The charges were framed against Thokchom Gouri alias Ibungo alias Konsam (25) s/o Th Ibomcha of Wangoo Sandangkhong, Haobam Ahead alias Lemba (40) s/o (L) K Danikumar of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, Ahongsangbam Kingson alias Yaiphaba (23) of Thangmeiband Khomdram Selungbam Leikai and Laichombam Naocha alias Malangba (24) s/o L Basanta of Sugnu Wangpokpi Mamang Leikai .
The special trial NIA case was registered on the basis of the charge sheets submitted in connection with the NIA case of Guwahati on November 29, last year, against the four accused and against Urikhinbam Budhichandra alias Budhi alias Poirei Singh, who is still absconding and hence the case had been split by an order of the Court on October 16 .
NIA, in their charge sheet, had submitted that in the month of April, 2016, Urikhinbam Budhichandra conspired with Thongbram Sanjit alias Pari alias Boy Singh and asked Th Sanjit to kill Ningombam Naba-chandra alias Nongdren- khomba, ex-chairman of PREPAK, who was staying at a designated camp of surrendered militants inside 7 Manipur Rifles complex .
Th Sanjit conspired with Thokchom Gouri for execution of the crime and hired Ahongsangbam Kingson and Laichombam Naocha .
On May 2016, Th Sanjit along with Haobam Ahead, met Th Gouri at the designated camp at 7 MR complex and discussed the arrangements for killing Nabachandra .
Th Gouri asked Th Sanjit to supply the weapon and so Sanjit contacted S Basanta of Tera Sapam Leirak to make arrangements for the weapons .
Thereafter, Basanta told Sanjit to collect the weapon from an unknown person from Uripok Yambem Leikai .
Th Sanjit and Haobam Ahead, after collecting the weapons (two pistols, a magazine and some live bullets), took them to Khaibeisoi.
However, one of the pistols was not working and as such it was replaced after informing S Basanta at the same place (Uripok Yambem Leikai) through the same unknown individual who had delivered the weapons in the first place .
Thereafter, Th Budhi handed over the weapon to Ahaongsangbam Kingson and Laichombam Naocha .
On June 21, 2016, at around 7.30 pm, when one London who was staying with Nabachandra went to his village and a festival was being celebrated at 7th Manipur Rifle temple, the two accused Ahongsangbam Kingson and Laichombam Naocha, went to the quarter of Nabachandra .
Nabachandra was watching TV in his bedroom at the time and his driver Sanjit was in the kitchen .
While Kingson engaged Nabachandra in some animated discussion, Naocha shot him (Nabachandra) five times from behind.
Three of the bullets hit Nabachandra while two missed and hit the wall.
Immediately after shooting the ex-chairman, the two accused Kingson and Naocha, rushed to the kitchen but Nabachandra's driver Sanjit managed to flee outside .
However, Kingson and Naocha chased him and shot him three times, two of which struck him, by the same pistol at the makeshift dining room, on the back side of the quarter .
The victims were killed on the spot .
Subsequently at around 8 pm, Th Budhi informed Th Sanjit about the killing over the mobile phone and the next day, Th Sanjit went to Khaibeisoi and confirmed the killing .
Later Th Budhi asked for making necessary arrangements of the initially agreed contract money for killing Nabachandra, for which Th Sanjit contacted S Basanta .
On June 24, Th Sanjit and Haobam Ahead went to Uripok Yambem Leikai and collected a sum of Rs 4.5 lakh from the same individual who delivered the weapons .
The Special Court heard the submission of Special PP (NIA) and the counsels of the accused individuals in length and went through all relevant documents .
Special PP (NIA) submitted that there is ample evidence on record that the accused had indeed conspired in killing Nabachandra and his driver to discourage insurgents from surrendering and prayed for framing a charge .
Counsels of the accused, submitted that the accused individuals have been falsely implicated and prayed for discharging the individuals of all liabilities of the charges levelled against them.
Special Court NIA went through the charge sheet as well as the records and passed an ordered stating that whether the facts submitted before the Court is proved or not is a matter to be decided at the trial and at the present stage, there are sufficient materials to frame charges against the accused individuals.
As such the Court framed charges against all the four accused on separate sheets.