Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 29:
The detention period of TIPS general secretary L Umakanta Meitei has been extended by another 15 days as the rights activist declined to comply with a Court order for furnishing necessary bail bond for his release today.
The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, imphal today ordered Umakanta's release after finding that police could not substantiate charges levelled against the human rights campaigner but later had to further remand him to judicial custody after he declined to furnish the bail bond.
In the presence of a large number of womenfolk who had been demanding his unconditional release, Umakanta was produced before the CJM, Imphal at around 1 pm.
Advocate Ph Dolen Sharma, appearing on behalf of Umakanta submitted before the Court to release his client without any condition by invoking Section 59 of CrPC which was however, turned down by the Court on the ground that the police have not yet submitted the final report (FR) of the case.
Since the Court received no explicit material or documents to substantiate charges against Umakanta, the Court released him on bail with a personal bond of Rs 10,000.Umakanta, himself a lawyer, declined to furnish the PR bond insisting he be released without any condition consequently prompting the Court to order his extended detention.
Informing media persons at the Court premises that he was severely subjected to police torture, Umakanta also revealed that despite being picked up from his Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai residence at around 4 am of August 24, the police issued arrest memo to his wife noting the arrest time as 9.30 am.
Moreover, the police also seized a number of articles including 15 CDs of TIPS, three ILO books etc from his custody without furnishing seizure list apart from confiscating his wife's mobile phone the next day, Umakanta stated.
further mentioning that inspite of a case registered against him at Porompat police station he was confined at City PS, Umakanta recounted his days in the police cell saying he was blind-folded and subjected to third degree torture several times.
Owing to police high-handedness he has developed health complications including loss of appetite, weight, heart pain and periodic memory lapses among others, Umakanta narrated while ridiculing his reference to an ENT doctor rather than medical examination by a doctor (medicine).
Porompat police is informed to have registered an FIR case pertaining to No 140 (8) 06 under section 38/39 UA (P) A Act 2004.