3 pulled up for defamatory banner, freed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 05 2016:
The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West released three persons on bail of Rs 50,000 each after they were arrested by Lamphel police for allegedly putting up a hoarding of BJP against the ruling Congress Government at Changangei Awang Leikai, opposite to Tulihal International Airport exit gate last night.
The three accused have been identified as Meisnam Premchand (38) s/o Lukhoi of Ghari Awang Leikai, Leimapokpam Surchandra (57) s/o Iboton of Haobam Marak Irom Leikai and Gurumayum Suresh Sharma s/o G Narayan Sharma of Khongman Mangjil Zone 1, proprietor of Narayan Printer.
All the alleged accused were arrested by a team of Lamphel police station last night from their respective homes some hours after the hoarding was put up at Changangei Awang Leikai along Tiddim road.
The hoarding featured a cartoon picture and phrases like '15 years of loot', '15 years of destruction', 'corruption', 'extra-judicial killings', 'drugs', 'power cuts', 'fake encounters', 'unemployment', 'murder', 'bandh', 'water scarcity' and 'blockade' were embossed on the banner.
At the bottom, it was written Miyamgi Khandraba Congress gi Matam loisinlakle, BJP na eikhoigi tungini (rough translation: Time for Congress party which shares no concern for the masses to expire; BJP is for our future) .
The said hoarding banner was pulled down by Lamphel police last night itself.
All the three accused were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West court today by Lamphel police station under FIR number 249(12) 2016 under section 153(A) 171 and 506 of Indian Penal Code.
According to police report submitted by the prosecutor before the Court, the poster was found fixed on the top of rice hotel Green Valley at Changangei Awang Leikai run by one Leimapokpam Suresh of Haobam Marak Irom Leikai.
Suresh and the owner of the hotel Meisnam Premchand of Ghari Awang Leikai were arrested from their respective residences.
M Premchand disclosed that the poster was printed at Narayan Advertising Agency, Khongman Mangjil.
Its proprietor Gurumaym Suresh was also arrested last night.
After hearing both prosecution and defence counsels, the Court passed an order and granted bail on PR bond of Rs 50,000 each.
The Court further directed all the accused to appear before the Court on December 19 .