Judicial remand of accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 19 2018: Four accused arrested in connection with the death of Moirangthem Megha who was lynched by a mob for kicking an individual acting as a Tangkhul during the Lairoi numit of Nongpok Ningthou Panthoibi Haoraoba, was produced before JMIC Imphal East Court and remanded to Judicial custody till April 2 .

The four accused, Pukhrihongbam Raju (41) s/ o (L) Ibohanbi of Yairipok Laimanai, Konjenbam Nilakanta alias Nanaocha (24) s/o K Munan of Top Chingtha Mathak Leikai, Maibam Jiban (24) s/o M Muhindro of Top Chingtha and Laishram Munal Meitei (31) s/o Pishak Meitei of Top Chingtha Achouba Mapal, were produced before the Court of JMIC Imphal East from Andro PS, with a prayer for judicial custody remand of all the accused for further investigation of the case.

On the other, remand objection and separate bail application of the four accused, was filed by their respective counsel before the Court.

The IO of the case, through the APP, submitted that the four accused were arrested in connection with the case on March 13, at around 6 pm and during interrogation, one of the accused, K Nilakanta, revealed that on the day of the incident, he saw some 15/20 individuals beating the deceased individual and rushed to intervene but soon realised that the victim was none other than his maternal uncle.

K Nilakanta claimed that he also begged the mob to spare his maternal uncle's life but no one listened to him and so he grabbed the deceased's neck and pull him to the ground.

On the other hand, during interrogation, the accused Raju disclosed that at the time of incident he saw the deceased kick the individual acting as the Tangkhul on the back and following which the crowd gave chase to the victim (Megha).

He also admitted that he joined the mob in chasing the victim and beating him.

Accused M Jiban also disclosed that he joined the crowd in chasing the deceased but when he tried to go near the deceased he was not allowed to enter by the mob.

During interrogation, the accused L Munal, disclosed that he saw some individuals gathering around the public ground and saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood.

He claimed that when he went towards the deceased, someone turned the dead body and as such some blood were splashed on his white pant.

The Court went through the record and heard the APP and the counsels of the accused individuals and decided that the allegation levelled against the accused individuals is of one of the gravest and heinous nature.

The Court mentioned that the deceased person Moirangthem Megha died as a result of beating by some individuals on March 8, at Yairipok Top Chingtha Laibung and informed that all the accused individuals were admittedly present at the place of the incident and the investigation of the case is in an early stage and no independent witnesses have been examined so far.

It is also stated that the person who acted as the Tangkhul, has not been arrested till date.

Considering the nature of the offence, material on record and stage of investigation, the Court remanded the accused individuals to judicial custody till April 2.On the other hand, locals and JAC members of the deceased as well as the family members of the accused individuals were seen gathering at Lamphel Court complex.

To prevent any untoward incident from happening, Imphal East district police personnel, including women police personnel were deployed during the production of the accused individuals.

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