Order reserved
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2019:
Special Court NIA Manipur, today, reserved the order concerning the bail application filed by Havildar Nellikattil Podiyan Damodaran, till May 31 following a hearing in connection with the missing arms case from 2nd Manipur Rifle arms kote.
The Court went through the bail application filed by Havildar Nellikattil Podiyan Damodaran (one of the accused in the case) through his counsel for releasing him on bail during the hearing today.
The Court also heard Special PP of NIA and the counsel of the accused, in length before deciding to reserve the order till May 31.It may be mentioned that Nellikattil Podiyan Damodaran, who is responsible for safe custody of PHQ pool arms and ammunition inside the arms kote and who had been holding the key of PHQ arms pool since the year 2000, was arrested by Imphal PS after the CO of 2nd Manipur Rifles filed a complaint in March last year.
Nellikattil Podiyan Damodaran and other accused individuals of the case were taken into custody by NIA after the investigation of the case was handed over to the agency by the State Government.
On the other hand, yesterday, the Court also heard the bail applications filed by two other accused individuals of the same case namely Laishram Damudaran alias Thembung s/o Jatra of Kwakeithel and Mathurabashimayum Hiranjoy Sharma s/o Haridas of Tera Sapam Leirak before reserving the order till June 4.It may also be mentioned that earlier, the Court had released three other accused on bail due to insufficient evidences.
Those who were released by the Court are KRA Chief David Hangsing s/o (L) Lalpao Hangsing of Lhungtin village, Saikul, H Talung Pungphinami of Senapati district and Thokchom Diamond s/o Sunil of Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi (driver of Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip who is also one of the accused inthe case).
It may be recalled that NIA, after the completion of the investigation, submitted their first charge sheet on September 25 last year against Laishram Anilkumar, Thokchom James, Paonam Shantikumar, Haobijam Brojendro, Ngamboi Haokip alias Raju, Nellikattil Podiyan Damodaran, Mathurabashimayum Hiranjoy and Laishram Damudor.
Later the agency submitted their second charge sheet against KRA Chief David Hangsing, Th Diamond, Yamthong Haokip (MLA Saikul AC) and self styled chairman of UKLF Lhunkhonson Haokip.
The Court had also issued warrant of arrest against accused Lhunkhonson Haokip a few months back after he went on the run.