Interim bail for N Popilal extended
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 31 2023:
The District and Sessions Judge, Imphal West has extended the interim bail of Ningthoujam Popilal in connection with a case related with an alleged incident of assaulting two members of BJYM, till the next hearing, which has been scheduled for April 12.While challenging the bail objection report submitted by the IO of the case, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated, and that the FIR was filed by the alleged victim and workers of BJYM to counter the complaint filed by the petitioner (Popilal) in connection with an incident that occurred on February 8, in which the petitioner was assaulted by BJYM office secretary N Alex Singh and 30 other associates.
The counsel prayed for making absolute the interim bail granted to the petitioner.
The public prosecutor, on the other hand, argued that the victims of the FIR are presently under ICU treatment at Raj Medicity while materials so far in the record clearly implicate the petitioner.
He prayed for rejecting the prayer of the petitioner.
After perusing the bail objection report wherein the IO reported that statement of the victims could not be recorded as the victims are under ICU care.
"On the other hand, I find the IO reporting that examination of the petitioner revealed an altogether contrasting story compared to the allegations of the FIR case, which, in my opinion, is in support of the submissions of the counsel for the petitioner," the court observed.
"Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that further proceeding and/or disposal of the present application would only be justified after getting a clearer picture of the true facts of the case, which, unfortunately cannot be obtained unless the victims of the present FIR are examined," the court further observed.
The court then directed the IO of the case to place a detailed and complete medical report with regard to the medical treatment given to Mayanglambam Suresh Singh, son of M Olin of Kakching Khunou Hijam Maning Leikai and Ningombam Alex Singh son of N Ajitkumar Singh of Brahmapur Lalji Lakpa Leikai, as well as their present medical condition (including the information as to whether they are still under treatment or discharged; injury(ies) sustained among others), in order to ease the conundrum created by the present situation, to the court on or before April 12 .
The court then fixed the final hearing on April 12 and extended the interim bail granted to the petitioner (Ningthoujam Popilal) till the next date of hearing.
As per submission of the prosecution, on February 9 at 9.30 pm, BJYM president Manoharmayum Barish Sharma lodged a complaint report to OC of Lamphel PS stating that on the day at about 9.10 pm, BJP spokesperson Mayanglambam Suresh Singh presently staying at Lamphel Sanakethel along with Alex Ningombam were on their way along Lamphel Langol Road in a Renault car to drop Suresh at his rented house.
Four people under the instruction of Popilal stopped them near Tangkhul Church and dragged down Suresh from the car and started assaulting him on his face and head.
They also kicked Suresh on his buttock and knee when he fell on the ground.
In the meantime, Alex tried to intervene but Popilal pointed a gun at them and assaulted them.
Their intention was to kill them but some vehicles came towards the spot upon which Popilal and his three unknown associates fled the spot.
Popilal used a face mask however he was clearly known by Suresh, who called Barish on his mobile phone and asked to rescue them.
Then, Barish along with some of BJYM members rushed at the spot and evacuated them to Raj Medicity, the report said.