Court gives nod to formal arrest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23 2024:
The Court of Special Judge NIA Thoubal in-charge today allowed formal arrest of six persons by Lamlai Police in connection with looting of arms and ammunition from 5th IRB located at Chingarel Tejpur.
Thokchom Momocha alias Sunny (41) s/o Ibochouba of Heirok Part II Mayai Leikai, Sarangthem Anand alias Malem (36) s/o Shyam of Kakching Khunou Tampakmayum Lai Leikai, Ningthoujam Karna alias Pishak (27) s/o Ukil of Samaram Mapi Leikai Maning Laibung, Ningthoujam Manoranjan alias Khagemba (21) s/o Singhajit of Thinungei Kha Leikai, Thongam Phalguni alias Urikpa alias Khoithoi (27) s/o (L) Deban of Lamphel Sanakeithel and Moirangthem Johnson alias Thouna (21) s/o Kumar of Lamphel Kombirei, presently staying at Khoyathong Polem Leikai Machin were produced before the Court of Additional Session Judge, Fast track Court, Manipur East by a team of Heirok police station through video conferencing after completion of police custody period along with a prayer for judicial custody remand.
The PP submitted that on December 14 afternoon, a team of Thoubal district commandos rushed to Salungpham on getting information regarding the presence of some armed cadres indulging in extortion activities.
The commando team saw two cars coming in a suspicious manner from Wangjing toward Salungpham and asked the cars to stop for verification.
But both the cars drove away after firing some rounds of bullets toward the commando team from inside the cars.
The commando team retaliated by firing some rounds in the air.
After driving for around 30 meters, the cars stopped and seven persons with sophisticated weapons got down from the two vehicles and one of them was found with bullet injury.
While the injured person was immediately rushed to Noor Hospital, Lilong, the other six were taken to Lilong Police Station.
The injured person was evacuated to Raj Medicity but he succumbed to the injuries, the PP said.
The arrested persons are members of an unlawful organization and setting them free at the present stage will not only hamper the investigation but will also have serious ramifications on the law and order situation in the State, the PP continued before praying for remanding them in judicial custody.
The Court, after hearing the submission of PP and on perusal of the material on record, remanded the arrested persons in judicial custody till January 6 .
In the meantime, a team of Lamlai police station filed an application before the Court seeking permission for formal arrest of the six persons in connection with an FIR case registered at Lamlai police station regarding looting of arms and ammunition from 5th IRB headquarters located at Chingarel Tejpur on February 13, 2024 by a mob numbering around one thousand.
The Court, after hearing the PP and on perusal of the application granted Lamlai Police for formal arrest of the six persons and directed Lamlai police to produce them before the Court concerned.
Claiming that all the six arrested persons are village volunteers, large numbers of people protested the arrest by blocking Imphal-Moreh highway on December 14 and 15 and demanding their unconditional release.
Many womenfolk and CSOs have also been staging protest demonstrations at different places demanding unconditional release of the arrested persons.
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