Court grants bail to Mark Haokip
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 15 2025: Mark Thangmang Haokip, president of the "Government of People's Democratic Republic of Kukiland" allegedly involved in a conspiracy for secession from India and waging or attempting or abetting to wage war against the Government of India has been granted bail.

Special Judge, NIA Imphal West today ordered the release of Mark Thangmang Haokip on bail on furnishing a PR bond of Rs 3 lakh with two sureties of like amount.

The bail application was filed before the Court by Lhainikim Lhouvum alias Kikim w/o Mark Thangmang Haokip (40) of High School Veng, Molnom village, Churachandpur.

A bail application was filed on January 17, 2023 followed by another one on March 23, 2023 .

The two bail applications were disposed of by a common order passed on March 28, 2023 whereby the accused was granted bail.

However, before the accused could furnish bail bond, the State filed two separate applications praying for setting aside or modifying the common bail order.

After the two applications filed by the State were registered as Criminal Miscellaneous cases, Lhainikim Lhouvum filed a miscellaneous case.

The Court after hearing both the sides ruled that the applications filed by the State for setting aside/modifying the order passed on March 28, 2023 were not maintainable.

The State further challenged the order of March 28, 2023 before the High Court of Manipur and the High Court on August 22, 2024 .

The IO submitted a charge sheet for holding trial of the accused on March 20, 2023, followed by a supplementary charge sheet along with two prosecution sanctions issued by the Commissioner (Home), Govt of Manipur.

The Court, after hearing both the parties in length, ordered the release of the accused on bail on furnishing a PR bond of Rs 3 lakh with two sureties of like amount.

The Court further directed Mark Thangmang Haokip that he shall appear before the same Court through video conferencing on the dates fixed by the Court, unless prevented by circumstances beyond his control.

This condition shall remain in place until the law and order situation in the State improves and the general atmosphere becomes conducive for his physical appearance; he shall not influence prosecution witnesses in any manner; he shall not leave the State of Manipur without prior permission of the Court; he shall not do anything that could prejudice the trial; and he shall not indulge in any act which is likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty of India, mentioned the Court order.

Mark Thangmang Haokip was arrested from a house located at Kishangarh, New Delhi on May 24, 2022 after a case registered against him in connection with a social media post which allegedly promoted enmity between communities.

Mark Thangmang Haokip was formally arrested in connection with the present case for being the president of an organisation called "Government of People's Democratic Republic of Kukiland" allegedly involved in a conspiracy for secession from India and waging or attempting or abetting to wage against the Government of India.

It was alleged that Mark Thangmang Haokip and three others namely; KS Kipgen, Secretary (Administration), Lunkhohao Haokip, Secretary Political Affairs and CSK Mate, Press Secretary were also involved in spreading propaganda on social media platforms so as to create instability, communal hatred, animosity, incite violence etc so as to achieve the organization's goal of creating Kukiland.

It was also alleged that the accused also owned a website domain by the name of www.kukigovt.com to propagate their ideas and hatch conspiracy against the Government.

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