Family of murdered and JAC storm Cheirap Court
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 16 2018: The JAC and family members of Thokchom Tony, stormed Cheirap Court complex and attacked the four accused while they were being brought to the Court complex from Imphal PS for judicial custody remand today.

A large number of JAC members as well as family members of Thokchom Tony began gathering at the Court complex from the morning after they got information that the four accused of the case, Haobijam Dilip alias Taibanganba (45) s/o (L) Kunjababu of Keibul Lamjao (presently staying at Bishnupur Mamang Awang Leikai Ward number 11), Sandam Bojon alias Tombi (43) s/o (L) Rudra of Langol Laimanai, Lamabam Basan alias Thoi (21) s/o (L) Ibo of Ngaikhong Khullen Maning Leikai and Wahengbam .Sanathoi (18) s/o Nganba of Ngakchroupokpi Makha Leikai, will be produced before the Court after nine days police custody in connection with the case.

The four accused were brought to Court complex at around 1.30 pm by a team of Imphal PS and soon after reaching the complex, the large number of angry locals who were gathered at the complex tried to attack the accused individuals.

Fortunately police team managed to take the four accused persons inside the Court building.

Family of murdered and JAC storm Cheirap Court

During the hearing, the 10 of the case, through APP of the State, prayed for judicial custody remand of the four accused for further investigation of the case while the counsel of the two accused, Lamabam Basan and Wahengbam Sanathoi, filed an application for releasing the two individuals on bail.

The APP of the State submitted that a team of Imphal West district police arrested the four accused on March 8, in connection with the shooting and killing of Thokchom Tony alias Jagat (24) s/o of Th Suresh of Nagamapal Phougeisangbam leikai, at around 1.20 am of March 3, in front of his residential gate.

During the course of investigation, the district police team received a specific information on March 7 that the Hyundai i10 car involved in the case was seen near Langol Lai Manai and based on the input, the police team raided some suspicious houses located at Langol Laimanai the next day (at around 3 am).

During the house search of one Laishram Naocha alias Naobi (28) s/o (L) Ibobi of Langol Laimanai, the police team found one DBBL gun along with a leather bag containing a gun license and four live cartridges.

On spot verification, L Naocha disclosed that the BDDL gun belonged to his brother in law, Haobijam Dilip alias Taibanganba, who is a leader of a UG outfit, now under suspension of operation with the State Government.

However the police could not find Dilip inside his house.

Naocha disclosed that Dilip was staying at his aunty's house at Moirang after which the police team seized the weapon along with the license and the cartridges.

On further verification, Naocha revealed that the i10 car belonged to one Sandam Bojon alias Tombi of the same locality and pointed out the house of S Bojon to the police team.

The police team raided the house and found Bojon inside his home and also found the ilO car parked in the residential compound.

Hence S Bojon was arrested at around 3.40 am and the ilO car was also seized after observing necessary formalities and thereafter both the arrested individuals were taken to Moirang.

On reaching Moirang, Naocha pointed out his aunty's house and the police finally found H Dilip in the house.

During verification, Dilip admitted to have committed the offence and he was arrested after observing necessary formalities.

He also revealed that the two transgenders involved in the case are from Bishnupur and as a follow up action, the two transgenders were arrested from their respective houses the same day, the police prayer said.

During police custody period, Dilip disclosed that he is a leader of a KCP faction now in suspension of operation with the State Government and he is presently staying at the house of his second wife, Laishram Boby alias Bina of Langol Laimanai.

He revealed that on March 2, at around 5 pm, he along with S Bojon proceeded towards Kumbi from Langol Laimanai to attend a Swasthi Puja of the new born son of one of the leaders of KCP faction Nongdrenkhomba, at Kumbi Thingel Leikai in the Hyundai ilO car which belonged to S Bojon.

He disclosed that he also carried the DBBL gun with him during the trip inside the car.

On reaching Nambol, they picked up one of their party cadres, Oinam Nelson of Pishum Oinam Leikai, who was residing at his wife's parental home at Nambol, The three of them reached Kumbi and attended the Swasthi Puja and left the place at around 9 pm before proceeding for home.

When they reached Bishnupur, they went inside the official quarter of Subedar Robinson, CDO Bishnupur, where they all drank a bottle of whisky.

After the party was over, they left and reached Atapdeida Mandop where they picked up the two transgenders for going to a Thabal Chongba event and five of them drove 1 the car towards Imphal.

After reaching Nambol, O Nelson got down from the car and the remaining four of them further proceeded towards Imphal.

When they reached near the crossing of SSS Hotel, Nagamapal, at around 1.20 am, two youth riding a Honda Activa began honking their horns at the car continuously.

When they reached Nagamapal Phougeisangbam Leikai, the two youths stopped in front of their car and they (the accused individuals) also stopped their car.

In the meantime two more youths riding a two wheeler came from the right side of their car and stopped near the car.

The youths began shouting angrily to the passengers to come out of their car.

Getting angry and irritated at the behaviour of the youth, he took out his loaded DBBL gun and got down from the car.

Armed with the gun, he forced the youth to sit in a line with their back toward him.

He also knocked one of the youth with the butt of the DBBL gun.

All of a sudden, one of the youth start running by shouting to him and immediately he pointed the barrel of the gun towards the running youth and pressed the trigger and fired one round.

After running a few yards the youth fell down on the ground.

Thereafter he immediately boarded the car and shouted at S Bojon to start the car and drive fast.

As soon as he boarded the car, he opened the barrel of his DBBL gun and threw away the empty cartridge near Khuyathong Pukhri Achouba Mapal and thereafter, the car proceeded towards Langol Laimanai via Thangmeiband Polem leikai, Thangmeiband Lupa Marup road and Shija hospital road.

The three other co-accused of the case also admitted to the crime and also gave similar accounts of the incident, the police prays said.

It further mentioned that if the accused individuals are released on bail, they will threaten the important witnesses, thereby hampering the smooth investigation of the case and mentioned that it is highly required for the accused individuals to be remanded in judicial custody.

The Court went through the case record, heard the counsels of State and the bail applicants and satisfied with the remand prayer, rejected the bail application stating that further investigation is needed before allowing the accused individuals to be released on bail.

The Court then remanded the four accused of the case, into judicial custody till March 29 .