Accused in Chingarel incident get bail
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 28 2024: Special Judge NIA (Imphal East) on Wednesday granted bail to all six accused persons arrested by police in connection with looting of arms from the 5 India Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp at Chingarel in Imphal East district on February 13.During the bail hearing, the court examined the bail applications of accused Sunir Phundreimayum, Wangmayum Sanathoi, RK Sanjoy, Rajkumar Rocky, Mayengbam Binod and Leitanthem Naoba, who were being kept in judicialcustody.

Objecting to the bail application, the investigation ofii-cer (IO) of the case informed the court that on February 13 around 8.35pm, thousands of unidentified young men barged into the 5 IRB camp at Chingarel and looted many arms and ammunition.

On receiving news of the incident, teams of district police rushed to the scene but were fired upon by the young men.

The police also retaliated firing several rounds while Lamlai police station registered an FIR in connection with the incident and arrested six people.

During the course of investigation, police recovered four INSAS rifles, one AK Ghatak rifle, two SLR magazines, and 16 boxes containing 650 rounds of 9mm while one Hyundai Santro car, two hats inscribed with "commando", two Khaki hats inscribed "MP", two camouflage hats, and 16 Khaki colour belts from RK Sanjoy, and five Honda Activa from Sunir.

Stating that all six accused were arrested from in and around Chingarel, the IP prayed to the court not to grant bail iff order to facilitate further questioning, and identifying their leaders and others involved in the looting.

However, the defence counsels argued that the six accused were neither involved in the incident nor are members of any proscribed groups, along with contending that the police have not recover any incriminating evidence from their possessions.

As such, the counsels made a prayer to the court to release all six on bail.

After listening to both sides, the court, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Criminal Appeal No 704 of 2024 (Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No 10047 of 2023) Gurwinder Singh Vs.

State of Punjab & Others, observed that there were no definite evidence supporting the involvement of the six accused in the incident.

Thus, it granted bail to all six accused on execution of PR bond of Rs 30,000 and asurety bond of same amount each.

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