Suspected abductors sent to jail till Dec 4
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 20 2023: The Special Judge, NIA Imphal West has remanded two active cadres of Kuki Revolutionary Army-Unification (KRA-U) in judicial custody till December 4 in connection with the alleged kidnapping of two students on November 5 somewhere along National Highway-2 (Imphal Dimapur road).

The KRA-U cadres, Lhunkhosei Chongloi alias Mimin, (30) s/o Hentinthang Chongloi of C Asian village under Saikul police station and Satgougin Hangshing alias Gogou (28) s/o Ngamjalun Hangshing of Khomunnom village under Litan police station were produced before the Court today through video conferencing after completion of police custody period.

On the other hand, defence counsels of the accused persons filed remand objection along with a prayer for releasing them on bail.

Through an APP, the IO of the case submits that two boys namely; Avinash Maibam (16) s/o M Hemanta and Ningthoujam Anthony (19) s/ o (L) Sunder, both from Akham Awang Leikai have been missing since November 5 having been gone from their home on the same day morning at around 9.10 am, riding a Jawa motorcycle towards Awang Sekmai.

During inquiry, it has been found from CCTV footage that the duo crossed Shantipur village under Sekmai PS on at about 10.30 am on November 5 and then Gamgiphai village under Kangpokpi PS .

Their mobile phones showed their location in Senapati area.

Further, inquiry revealed that the said youths were suspected to have been kidnapped by suspected KRA(U) cadres and kept concealed at an unknown place.

In the course of investigation, police were able to locate the mobile phones belonging to the two boys and the mobile phones were recovered in the intervening night of November 5 and 6 from Taphou area (Senapati) as abandoned by the accused persons to twist the facts of the case.

Accused Lhunkhosei Chongloi alias Mimin, a sector commander of KRA(U) is a main suspect of the crime and after monitoring his mobile phone, he was located near Mao Gate and arrested along with the another accused Satgougin Hangshing alias Gogou.

On interrogation, Lhunkhosei Chongloi disclosed that he is known by the name of Mimin within his party (KRA-U).

Through his cousin David Chongloi, Chairman of the KRA(U), he joined KRA (U) in 2022 and within a short period, he was promoted as sector commander of Kangpokpi area.

He further disclosed that there are around 30 KRA(U) cadres under his command at Kangpokpi.

Lhunkhosei Chongloi further stated that he handled varieties of arms including AK-47.He was in Motbung area on November 5 and in the evening while he was in a hotel, people were talking about the coming of Arambai Tengol members towards Kangpokpi after a meeting of Arambai Tengol at Sekmai.

Lhunkhosei Chongloi said that he enquired about the two Arambai Tengol Meitei youths to his counterpart of KNF(P), Gamgiphai area, Hesat Satlam Haokip through mobile phone but Hesat disconnected the call after saying something in a suspicious manner.

Accused Lhunkhosei Chongloi further stated that on the next day (November 6) at about 5.30 am, as instructed by party chairman, KNF general secretary Henkholal Doungel came to Motbung Bazar with his driver and picked him up and drove up to Sapermeina.

There they were joined by David Chongloi and Satgougin Hangshing.

The four of them then left for Ghaspani (Nagaland) to drop the two leaders.

After dropping the two militant leaders, two accused persons returned from Ghaspani and they were detained near Mao Police Gate for verification of the target mobile number and their identity.

They were brought to Senapati police station and it was confirmed, that Lhunkhosei Chongloi is Mr Mimin.

Thus they were arrested in connection with the case.

On further interrogation, Lunkhosei Chongloi alias Mimin stated that during their journey towards Ghaspani (Nagaland) from Sapermeina, many mobile calls came to their two leaders (David Chongloi & Henkholal Doungel) and they were talking about the two Meitei Arambai youths.

He claimed that only then, he confirmed the kidnapping of the two youths from Gamgiphai area, most probably by village volunteers or villagers.

Satgougin Hangshing alias Gogou claimed that he is not a cadre of KRA(U) but working as a driver of the Chairman KRA(U) .

He stated that he was working in a NGO and recently started working as driver of the KRA(U) chairman.

He further stated that on November 5 he was informed by his boss to accompany him to Ghaspani the next day.

Then, on November 6 at around 6 am, he (driver), David Chongloi alias Chouminlal, Lunkhosei Chongloi alias Mimin and Henkholal Doungel, general secretary, KNF Sapermeina left for Ghaspani.

He further stated that on the way to Nagaland while he was driving, some associates of David Chongloi rang him up and informed that the two Meitei youths were abducted from Gamgiphai area under Sapermeina police station, Kangpokpi district but it was not disclosed by whom the two Meiteis were abducted and where they had been kept concealed.

They dropped their two leaders at Ghaspani and on their return, they were arrested by Senapati police from near Mao Police Gate.

Interrogation so far revealed that the two accused persons have been concealing certain facts and denying their involvement in the commission of this heinous crime.

However, considering the circumstances of their movement and capacities being cadres of KRA (U) who are taking active part in the ethnic crisis, they are required to be remanded in judicial custody for further investigation by arresting other suspects/ co-accused persons as disclosed by them.

Many KRA(U) cadres and KNF(P) cadres are required to be arrested in connection with the case to dig out the facts of the abduction and suspected killing of the two youths including a minor, the IO submitted.

Praying for judicial custody remand, the IO prayed the Court to lodge them in a convenient jail like Kohima for their safe transportation and custody.

The Court, after hearing the submission of the IO through the Special PP, defence counsel and on perusal of the material on record observed that involvement of the accused persons in the alleged offences cannot be ruled out at the present stage without further investigation.

In other words, there are no sufficient grounds to release the accused persons on bail at the present stage and giving a free hand to the IO for further investigation would be more proper in view of the materials on record, the Court remarked.

The Court then remanded the two accused to judicial custody till December 4 and directed the IO of the case to place a detailed proposal regarding where the accused persons shall be lodged.

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