Missing case of Avinash, Anthony : Further remand for two accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 17 2023: The two persons arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of two students from Akham Awang Leikai on November 5 somewhere along Imphal-Dimapur highway have been remanded to police custody for more days.

The accused persons identified as Lhunkhosei Chongloi alias Mimin (30) s/ o Hentinthang Chongloi of C Asian village under Saikul police station and Satgougin Hangsing alias Gogou (28) s/o Ngamjalun Hangsing of Khomunnom village under Litan Police Station were produced before the Court of Special Judge NIA, Imphal West in-charge today through video conferencing along with a prayer for further five days police custody remand.

Through an APP, the IO of the case submitted that the two missing boys, Avinash Maibam (16) s/o M Hemanta Singh of Akham Awang Leikai and Ningthoujam Anthony Singh (19) s/o late N Sunder Singh of Akham Awang Leikai went out from their home on November 5 at about 9.10 am on a Jawa motorcycle (black in colour) bearing registration number MNO1-AN-3387 to meet their friends at Awang Sekmai but didn't come back home.

On checking some CCTV footages fitted along Imphal-Dimapur highway, the duo were seen crossing Shantipur village under Sekmai police station on the same day at about 10.30 am and further at Gamgiphai village under Kangpokpi police station.

While the boys have not returned till date, their mobile phones were traced to Senapati.

As revealed in the course of enquiry, it is highly suspected that the boys were abducted by unknown armed militants suspected to be KRA (U) cadres from an unknown place and kept concealed for unknown reason at an unknown place.

During the course of investigation, large teams of Imphal West District police under the supervision of IG (Zone-1) conducted search operations in and around Sekmai area and its peripheries.

Kangpokpi police also conducted search operations in and around Gamgiphai and other suspected villages and Senapati police conducted similar operations in the border area of Senapati and Kangpokpi districts.

During a search operation, two individuals suspected to be involved in committing the crime were apprehended by Senapati Police and they were produced before the Duty Magistrate through video conferencing on November 7 for further investigation till today.

As proper interrogation has not been completed yet, the IO prayed for remanding the accused to police custody for five more days.

The Court, after hearing the submission of the IO of the case and on perusal of the material on record, remanded the accused in police custody for four more days till November 20.Notably, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) constituted in connection with the disappearance of the two students, Maibam Avinash and Ningthoujam Anthony had imposed 33 hours public cur-few/bandh in the State from November 10 morning till November 11 afternoon denouncing the Government's failure to rescue the two missing students.

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