Yambem Laba walks out on bail
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2024: Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West has ordered the release of senior journalist and former Member of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, Yambem Laba and his associate Khuraijam Dhanabir on bail today.

Yambem Laba (69) of Uripok Yambem Leikai and Khuraijam Dhanabir alias Tony Khanganba (59) of Sagolband Tera Amudon Leikai were produced before the Court today after the completion of police custody period along with a prayer for sending them to judicial custody.

The defense counsel, on the other hand, filed a remand objection and prayed the Court for releasing them on bail.

Yambem Laba and Khuraijam Dhanabir were arrested based on a complaint lodged by one Yengkhom ongbi Chanchan (44) of Khoyathong Polem Leikai.

The complaint lodged with the Imphal police station alleged that on October 6 afternoon, Khuraijam Dhanabir threatened Chanchan over the phone to come at the residence of Yambem Laba, who runs People Tribunal Centre at his residence to discuss a debt of Rs 16 lakh she borrowed from a person from her locality in December 2022 .

The complainant alleged that on October 7 morning, she visited the residence of Yambem Laba with her husband.

In the complaint, she alleged that while they were having a discussion about the financial matter, suddenly, without any provocation, Khuraijam Dhanabir pulled out a gun from Yambem Laba's waist, cocked it and pointed it at her and threatened to kill her.

Family members of Yambem Laba, however, intervened.

During the hearing in the Court today, the Prosecutor submitted that the investigation has resulted in seizure of cash memos/receipts related to the People Tribunal Centre which allegedly show that accused persons were allegedly collecting illegal funds from innocent public.

The accused persons acted as law enforcing agencies to settle cases on their own.

They also threatened and overpowered those who spoke against them, and collected illegal funds from the innocent public, claimed the Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor further alleged that the accused persons have also tampered with the evidence by deleting CCTV footage so that their criminal activities could not be seen.

The Prosecutor then prayed the Court for sending them to judicial custody for further investigation of the case.

While the Prosecutor was asking the Court for judicial custody of the accused, the complainant of the case appeared before the Court along with her counsel and prayed it to withdraw the case.

The complainant claimed she filed the complaint as she was tense that day, and disclosed that one of the accused persons, Yambem Laba is her uncle.

After hearing the submissions, the Court ordered the release of both the accused on bail on execution of a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh each and a surety of the same amount.

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