CBI chargesheets five people in Manipur arms-looting case
Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed a charge sheet before the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup (Metro), against five people in a case of looting of arms and ammunition from Manipur Police personnel in May 2023.
The accused persons have been identified as Moirangthem Anand Singh, Athokpam Kajit, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha alias Michael, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei alias Romojit, and Keisham Johnson alias Jhonson, official sources said.
On June 9, 2023, the CBI took over the case from the Manipur Police (Heingang police station in Imphal East).
The case pertains to a mob storming the Manipur Police Training College’s (MPTC) Pangei complex on May 4, 2023, and allegedly looting a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the armoury during an ethnic conflict in the northeastern state.
Sources said that, in November 2023, the NIA opposed the bail plea of Moirangthem Anand Singh and said that he is associated with a proscribed organisation and was arrested with sophisticated arms and ammunition along with his associates in an area affected by the ongoing strife.
It was pointed out that if the accused is released on bail, it will cause hardship to the ongoing investigation, and there is a high probability that he will again indulge in the same activities, which will exacerbate the present security situation in the state of Manipur, according to the NIA.
The CBI maintained that further investigation is going on and that, under Indian law, accused are presumed innocent until their guilt is established after a fair trial.
Also Watch: