2 co-accused remanded in police custody
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 06 2022: Two co-accused female teachers in the alleged SIMS rape case who had evaded police arrest for more than 3 months were produced before a Lamphel Court today amid protest by members of a Joint Action Committee.

The two co-accused have been identified as Nonibala Chanu alias Soina Yambem (29) of Bamon Kampu and Laishram Kunjarani (28) of Top Khongnang Makhong.

The two guest Lecturers at SIMS (Saina Institute of Medical Science) were on the run to avoid arrest for more than three months and a half.

They surrendered before the Court yesterday and were produced in the Court today by a team of Women Police Station, Imphal West along with a prayer for 3 days police custody remand.

The prime accused of the case is Yumnam Surjit-kumar, managing director cum founder of the institution.

He hails from Khurai Kongkham Leikai.

Police are yet to arrest him.

When the two co-accused were produced in the Lamphel Court today afternoon, members of the JAC formed in connection with the case protested inside the Court complex.

Inside the Court, the Investigating Officer of the case submitted that the accused persons were evading police arrest till date despite the cancellation of their anticipatory bail application by the Session Court and the High Court of Manipur.

On preliminary interrogation, the two co-accused have admitted that they went along with the victim for a picnic at Andro.

However they were adamant to reveal their actual involvement in the case.

Further examination of the two is required for tracing the whereabouts of the other co-accused and prime accused Yumnam Surjitkumar, managing director cum founder of SIMS.

The Court, on perusal of the case record and after hearing the submission of the Investigating Officer, remanded the accused persons in police custody till December 8 .

As JAC members were protesting in the complex, the two co-accused were transported out of the Court complex from the western gate by the police team.

It may be noted that a Single Bench of Justice MV Muralidaran on October 13, had dismissed the anticipatory bail application of the two co-accused, managing director of SIMS Yumnam Surjitkumar and assistant director SK Wajid Shah.

Meanwhile, in another case of rape of a minor, accused Laishram Chinglenkhomba (31) has been remanded in five days police custody till December 9 .

The accused was produced before the Duty Magistrate yesterday late in the evening by a team of Women Police Station, Thoubal along with a prayer for police custody remand. The accused, Laishram Chinglenkhomba of Heirok had allegedly raped an 11-year-old minor girl on December 3 .

Meanwhile, the JAC has threatened to launch agitations including bandh on National Highway-102 if all accused persons in the case are not arrested within three days.

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