'UG cadre' pleads innocence in Roger case
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 22 2017:
An alleged KCP (MC) cadre who is one of the accused in the Irom Roger murder case gave his statement before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East today in connection with the ongoing trial of the infamous case.
The accused has been identified as Ningombam Birjit @ Ibungo (44) s/o Brojen of Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai presently staying at Chingmeirong Maning Leikai.
He was produced by a team of Lamphel police led by its SDPO with a prayer for 15 days judicial custody.
In his submission, Investigation Officer of the case stated that on receipt of specific information about the presence of an underground cadre in and around Chingmeirong area, a team of police rushed to the conducted cordon and search operation at some of the suspected houses on May 16 at around 5.30 am.
He claimed that during the search at the house of Ningombam Brojen, one unknown youth was found standing at the lawn of the house in a very suspicious maimer.
Due to his suspicious manner, he was detained for verification.
Further he identified himself as Ningombam Birjit.
On further questioning, he disclosed that he is working under the command of one Soraisam Modhu Singh of KCP (MC) of Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai presently staying in Assam.
Under the instruction of Modhu, he extorted a huge amount of money from different Government officials and contractors for party fund, the IO contended.
The accused submitted in the open Court that he was arrested by a team of Imphal West commando from his house on May 16 at around 1 am and on the same day he was handed over to Lamphel police station.
He also submitted that he is not a member of any outlawed organisation and not involved in any prejudicial activities.
The accused, however, admitted that he had approached Irom Roger's mother Chitra Devi to negotiate with her on the request of some influential persons as he was well acquainted with her.
He also admitted that on the request of Chitra Devi he had accompanied her to pick up advocate Ustup from Imphal Tulihal Airport a few days back and dropped him at the High Court of Manipur after which he came back home.
He suspected that he was wrongly charged by police for accompanying the deceased's mother for picking up the advocate from the airport.
Counsel of the accused submitted before the Court that there is no prima facie case for invoking the accused into the alleged offence for which the accused was arrested and harassed.
Contending that the accused is a victim of political assassination, the counsel prayed for granting bail to the accused.
On the other hand, Assistant Public Prosecutor for the State claimed that there is enough materials for levelling the alleged offence against the accused and objected for bringing the submission as political assasination at this stage.
Perusing the materials on records including the case diary and statements recorded under Section 161 of CrPC, the Court remanded the accused to police custody for 15 days till June 5 .
A formal arrest prayer was came from City police station under Section 387/353/511/34 of IPC and Section 17/20 of UA (P) A Act.
The accused also filed an application for remand objection.
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