Of five village volunteers released one re-arrested by NIA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 22 2023:
Of the five village defence volunteers who were arrested by police on September 16 from Kongba, one has been re-arrested by the NIA while the four others have been released.
Earlier today, all the five village defence volunteers were granted bail by the Court of Special Judge, NIA Imphal East.
Following the Court order, Athokpam Kajit alias Kishorjit (39) s/o A Dhananjoy of Kongba Nongthombam Leikai, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha (30) s/o L Iboton of Khurai Ahongei, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei (28) s/o K Meghajit of Sagolband Sayang, Keisham Johnson (35) s/o K Ibomcha and Moirangthem Anand Singh (45) s/o late M Achou Singh, both belonging to Singjamei Makha Sorokhaibam Leikai were released at around 6 pm but Moirangthem Anand was re-arrested by the NIA in connection with another case at about 5.40 pm today.
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Learning about the Court's order, families of all the five village defence volunteers and a large number of people waited for their release in front of Imphal police station from 4 pm.
As the gathering swelled, police used PA system and asked the crowd to leave the place.
Later, police drove away the crowd by firing two/three mock bombs.
The people gathered again in small groups at Babupara to the eastern side of 1st MR complex.
Later, Imphal East SP Ksh Shivkanta said that all the five persons except Anand have been handed over to the respective families but Anand has been re-arrested by the NIA in connection with a case registered earlier.
Anand's wife who was among the crowd who gathered in front of Imphal police station said she was told by the Imphal West SP that her husband has been taken to Delhi this evening in connection with a case.
"It is absurd that my husband has been re-arrested by the NIA on the charge that he was once a member of an insurgent group", said the worried wife.
Utterly shocked and devastated by the news that her husband had been taken away by the NIA to Delhi, the wife collapsed momentarily.
Earlier in the day, the five village defence volunteers were produced before the Special Judge, NIA Imphal East by a team of Imphal East district police along with a prayer for judicial custody remand for smooth investigation of the case.
On the other hand, defence counsels of all the five village defence volunteers filed remand objection along with a prayer for releasing them on bail.
The IO of the case, through a Special PP, submitted that the five accused persons are village defence volunteers and they were volunteering to protect villagers at large in Manipur (based on the statements recorded by the police during the course of investigation).
It was also admitted that a large number of people including womenfolk have been demanding unconditional release of the five persons.
Apart from imposing a 48 hour general strike, large numbers of people even thronged police stations demanding release of the village defence volunteers on the ground that they were doing certain activities for the safety and protection of the villagers at large.
Saying that no prejudicial activities can be shown as of now during the course of investigation, the Special PP prayed for passing an appropriate order so as to protect the law of the land as well as to protect personal liberty of the accused persons.
On the other hand, the defence counsels submitted that all the accused persons are village defence volunteers and they were defending innocent villagers and their villages.
The Court, after hearing the submission of the IO, the Special PP and the defence counsels in length, ordered release of the five village defence volunteers on bail on furnishing PR bond of Rs 50,000 each and one surety of the same amount with the condition that they shall cooperate with the investigation and make themselves available before the investigating authority as and when required.
The accused shall not influence prosecution witnesses, they shall not leave the State of Manipur without prior permission of the Court and they should appear before the IO of the case every 15 days as well, said the Court order.
During the Court proceedings, a large number of womenfolk gathered in front of the entrance gate of Cheirap Court complex and shouted 'Long Live Manipur', 'Release five village volunteers" and others.
One of the defence counsels later read out the Court order to the womenfolk who gathered in front of Court using megaphone about the release of the five village volunteers on furnishing PR bonds.