Manipur violence: 5 VDVs released on bail, one ‘rearrested’
CONFLICT
Imphal: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday granted bail to the five village defence volunteers (VDVs), who were arrested with sophisticated arms last week, and among them, Moiragthem Anand Singh (45) was rearrested and taken to Delhi by NIA for interrogation on his alleged involvement in the Paraolon ambush case of 2015 in which 18 Indian Army personnel were killed.
During police investigation, Anand revealed that he began working as an overground member of the banned RPF/PLA in 1993 and underwent basic military training of the outfit in 2001, case dossiers said.
A resident of Singjamei area here, he was arrested by the police on different FIR cases for being a cadre of the outfit and extortion, and the last arrest was on June 19, 2010 for being a member of another unlawful outfit KCP (N), the case papers added.
Owing to the current law present law and order situation, the NIA court (Imphal East) heard the case via video conferencing.
The five – Moiragthem Anand Singh (45), Athokpam Kajit (39), Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha (30), Konthoujam Romojit Meitei (28) and Keisham Johnson (35)- were arrested for possessing sophisticated weapons and masquerading as police commandos from Kongba area in Imphal East district on September 16.
They have been booked under sections 121/A/416/419/506/120-B/170 IPC, 25(1-A) A.Act, 16 UA (P) Act and 6 (1) (a) Official Secrets Act.
While giving its verdict, the court ruled that the investigation officer of the case “cannot show strong prima facie case against all the accused persons for the commission of terrorist acts and prejudicial activities against the State attracting section 16 UA(P) Act and section 121-A of the IPC as of now.”
It granted bail to the five on personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety bond of the like amount on certain conditions.
The accused shall co-operate with the investigation and shall make available before the investigating authority and shall not “influence prosecution witnesses, said the Court.
Stating that the accused shall not leave the state without prior permission of the court, the Court asked them to appear before the investigation officer of the case every 15 days.
Seeking unconditional release of the five, a 48-hour bandh was called in the state ending Wednesday midnight by a group of five local clubs in Imphal West, prompting normal activities to a grinding halt in all valley districts.
Stepping up the stir, womenfolk in large number on Thursday stormed various police stations across the valley district and offered themselves for arrests, prompting the district magistrates to impose indefinite curfew in the twin capital districts of Imphal West and Imphal East under 144 CrPC.
During the mass court arrest agitations the cops resorted to fire tear gas canisters and stunt bombs, injuring over 15 women protestors.
A lady journalist working in local English daily, covering the incident near Porompat police station in Imphal East was also injured hurt in the melee.