Imphal, September 22: The Guwahati High Court.

Imphal Bench has issued stringent directive to the Principal Secretary (Home), DG (Prisons) and the SP of Sajiwa Central Jail to release 15 Myanmarese prisoners whose prison terms are over within five days or face contempt of court.

Until the Union Government arrange for transportation of the Myanmarese nationals to their homes, the prisoners should be kept at the Myanmarese refugees camp located at Leikul in Chandel district, spelled out the High Court contempt notice.

The 15 Myanmarese nationals were apprehended by 24 Assam Rifles from Moreh on August 17 last year for crossing into Indian territory without necessary documents.

After they were handed over to Moreh police station, an FIR was registered and a chargesheet was framed against them.

Subsequently they were produced before the Court of CJM Chandel.

With the Myanmarese nationals admitting their faults, CJM Chandel sentenced them to six months in prison and also to pay fine of Rs 500 each.

Their prison terms expired on February 22 this year.

However, they are still languishing in prison even as CJM Chandel issued an order directing to release the Myanmarese nationals.

The same order was sent to the jail SP on the same day on which the prisoners should be released.

The State Government too issued an order on February 25 this year instructing concerned officials to take the prisoners to Moreh and to hand them over to Myanmarese authorities.

Following their protracted detention inspite of the Court and Government orders, the prisoners filed a writ petition on July 18 this year at Guwahati High Court seeking their release.

On July 26, a division bench of the High Court issued a ruling asking concerned officials to release the prisoners and to house them at Leikul refugee camp.

Following the failure of the officials to comply with the ruling, the High Court issued the contempt of court notice to the Principal Secretary (Home), DG (Prisons and the SP of Sajiwa Central Jail today.

Comment