2nd MR arms and ammunition disappearance case
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08 2018:
Five individuals arrested by Imphal Police in connection with the disappearance of arms and ammunition of 2nd MR have been further remanded to 4 days police custody, till April 10 by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East today.
The accused individuals, NP Damodaran (59) s/o (L) Podiyan of Ommllur village, Kerala, Havildar of 2nd MR, Narayan Chhetry (44) s/o (L) Man Bahadur Chhetry of Bhimpokhara ward number 6, Baglung, Nepal, Riflemen of 2nd MR, Mathurabashi Mayum Hiranjoy alias Ngoubi (34) s/o Haridas of Tera Sapam Leirak, Paonam Shantikumar (50) s/o (L) Shamu Singh of Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi Ninthoujam Leikai and Ngamboi Haokip alias Raju (38) s/o (L) Dongmang Haokip of Loibol Khonou Waroiching, were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East along with prayer of four more days police custody remand for further investigation of the case.
The Investigating Officer (IO) of the case, through APP of the State submitted that on March 30, P Manjit (Commandant of 2nd MR) lodged a written complaint to OC Imphal PS stating that after assuming the charge of Commandant he formed a committee on February 8 to examine the present holding of arms and ammunition of the unit and the well-guarded Arms Kote (PHQs Pool) .
The committee submitted its preliminary report on February 29, stating that out of five hundred and seventy 9 mm pistols received from Phqs on September 11, 2014, fifty six auto 9 mm IA pistols along 58 magazines were found missing.
The responsibility for the safe custody of the PHQ pool arms and ammunition inside the Arms Kote of the battalion quarter had been entrusted to Havildar NP Damodaran and Riflemen Narayan Chhetry as they have been holding the keys of the PHQ arms pool since 2000 .
During the course of investigation, two other accused individuals identified as Haobam Brojendro (39) s/o H Tombi of Kwakeithel Nganapithong and Laishram Damudor alias Thembung (27) s/o L Jatra of Kwakeithel Mayaikoibi were arrested on April 3, at around 8 pm, in connection with the case.
The IO submitted that during preliminary interrogation, they admitted to have taken part in the disposal of arms which is reasonably believed to be the arms missing from PHQ pool Arms Kote of 2nd Battalion Manipur Rifle and as such they were remanded to police custody till April 10 .
During the course of the investigation, the accused individuals were interrogated and Mathurabashi Mayum Hiranjoy and Paonam Shantikumar also admitted that they took part in disposal of some arms which are reasonably suspected to be among the missing weapons from PHQ pool Arms Kote of 2nd Battalion Manipur Rifles.
Further it was submitted that accused Paonam Shantikumar is a cadre of KCP (MC) and accused Ngamboi Haokip is a self styled 2nd lieutenant of KRA and a missing 9 mm pistol along with 9 live rounds were recovered and seized from his possession on August 12 last year.
It also submitted that the other remaining accused individuals, NP Damodaran and Narayan Chhetry, were the custodians of the Arms Kote and they are still concealing many vital information of the case.
The Court remanded the five accused to four more days in police custody, till April 10 .
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