Six held in arms loot case jailed, chaos in court
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 20 2024: All six persons arrested in connection with the case of looting arms from 5 IRB Chingarel post have been granted judicial remand by the court of special judge (NIA) Imphal East while several people were injured in crackdown by RAF personnel on protesters who tried to storm the Cheirap court complex demanding release of the arrestees.

Cameraman of TOM TV Naresh was among the injured as he suffered head injury in stone pelting.

Many people enquired The People's Chronicle about imposition of bandh/cease work on Wednesday against RAF action on women at Cheirap court complex but no formal announcement was made till the time of filing this report.

An organisation named Meetei Leima had, however, called upon people to stage sit-in-protest on February 21 from 11am to 3pm against arrest of the village volunteers.

When the six arrested individuals were being produced before the NIA court with IO of the case seeking their judicial remand, a chaotic situation evolved at Cheirap court complex.

Large number of women converged and demanded release of the arrested individuals, namely Mayengbam Binod (31), son of Ibochaoba of Waiton Makha Leikai, Leitanthem Naoba (37), son of late Binoy of Waiton Mayai Leikai, RK Sanjoy (37), son of Sanahal of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai, Rajkumar Rocky (36), son of late RK Thambalsana of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai, Wangmayum Sanathoi (21), son of Nur Hussain of KR Lane, New Checkon; and Sunir Phundre imayum (19), son of Md Sagir Ahmad of Lilong Mayai Leikai presently residing at KR Lane, New Checkon.

The IO of the case submitted before the court that the six were among those who stormed the 5 IRB Chingarel post and looted arms on February 13 evening and prayed for judicial remand of all till March 5,2023 for further questioning.

However, counsel of the six accused contended that they are innocent and sought their release on bail by cancelling the prayer for judicial remand.

Nevertheless, the special PP insisted that the six were part of the mob which looted arms from the 5IRB and sought their judicial remand for questioning.

After perusing statements of both sides and examination of materials on record, the court remanded the six accused to judicial custody till March 5, 2023 and also fixed February 28 for discussing their applications as regular bail and bail objection.

Minutes after the decree, large number of women trooped inside the court com -plex locked the main gate and door of the court room.

A team of RAF too arrived to control the situation and used smoke bombs to disperse the women protestors to which people retaliated by pelting stones and water bottles.

Later, women gathered inside the court complex directed their ire towards the RAF personnel for using smoke bombs.

The unwanted incident at court complex was reviewed by registrar general of Manipur high court, judges of district and sessions courts and functionaries of All Manipur Bar Association and discussed about preventing such incidents in future.

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