Police remand for blast accused Pranomoy Rajguru and Jahnabi Saikia extended again for further four-day

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kamrup (M) at Guwahati has ordered a further four-day police remand for the Guwahati Central Mall grenade blast case accused, Pranomoy Rajguru and Jahnabi Saikia.

Actor Jahnabi Saikia and Pranomoy Rajguru were arrested on May 17 in connection with Geetanagar PS Case No 210/19 registered under section 325/326/307/121 of Indian Penal Code read with Section 3/5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 10/13/16/20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for being part of the conspiracy of causing grenade explosion at Guwahati Central Mall located at RG Baruah Road. Firstly, on May 17, the said accused persons were remanded to ten-day police custody and thereafter on their reproduction on May 27, they were again sent to further police custody of four days.

On Friday, the Investigating Officer (IO) prayed for further police custody of four days in terms of Section 43D of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. It is pertinent to state that in the forwarding report of the accused it was disclosed that although the arms and ammunition have been recovered the source of procurement is yet to be traced and more associates of theirs are likely to be arrested very soon.

In this case, other accused, namely Amit Ballav Goswami, Chinmoy Lahkar, Indra Mohan Bora, Papu Konch Bokoiyal, Bijoy Asom and Sanjib Talukdar. The accused Sanjib Talukdar who was arrested on Tuesday and remanded to police custody till June 3, was to appear in his UPSC examination on June 2. The allegation against Sanjib Talukdar is that he has a good relation with ULFA(I) Chief Paresh Barua who called him in his mobile number from time to time and moved around with Bijoy Asom which he did not disclose to anybody and a result twelve persons were injured in the blast. The Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kamrup (M) at Guwahati passed the order “Accused persons namely Pranmoy Rajguru and Jahanabi Saikia are produced after expiry of police custody.”

On being asked the accused persons have submitted that they are medically fit. The IO has prayed for another four days police custody for the accused persons for a thorough investigation to unearth the fact of the case.

It appears that the accused persons have already been remanded to Police Custody for 14 days and after expiry of police custody they are produced today. However, from clear perusal of section 43D of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act it appears that section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall apply in relation to a case involving an offence punishable under this Act subject to the modification that under reference to “fifteen days” shall be construed as reference to “thirty days”. Hence, considering all prayer of the I.O. for another four days police custody of the accused persons is allowed.

The IO is directed not to torture the accused persons and he is directed to ensure that the accused persons receive proper food, clothing and medical attention and he is directed to ensure that the accused persons will be examined by the Medical practitioner every 24 hours. Moreover, the IO is directed to comply with the directions laid down by Supreme Court in the case of DK Basu Vs State of West Bengal.

Senior Counsel Bhaskar Dev Konwar assisted by advocate R Kalita and MK Brown appeared for the accused Jahnabi Saikia. Senior counsel Konwar has expressed his views that on perusal of the documents in the case record it is likely that more persons involved in the conspiracy of causing the blast are yet to be arrested and the investigation is yet to be completed and therefore the police remand of the accused persons is extended for another four days.

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