Manipur: Non-Bailable Warrant Issued for Meitei Leepun Chief in Controversial Statement Case

IMPHAL: In Manipur's Churachandpur district, the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court has issued a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of Pramot Singh, who serves as the Chief of Meitei Leepun. The warrant was issued following Singh's failure to appear in court despite being duly served a notice. The case revolves around a controversial statement made by Singh, accusing him of promoting enmity between different groups, defamation, and making statements conducive to public mischief.

This legal action stems from an interview Pramot Singh granted to senior journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire on June 6, 2023. In this interview, Singh made incendiary remarks suggesting that all Kukis would be wiped out or annihilated from Manipur's soil. These comments triggered a strong backlash from the Kuki-Zo community.

During the course of the investigation, the police determined Singh's address to be in Nepali Basti Chingmeirong, Imphal West district, Manipur, within the jurisdiction of the Lamphel police station. However, Singh remained elusive, largely due to the ongoing ethnic conflicts in the state.

In an attempt to bring Singh to justice, the police sent a message to the Officer-in-Charge of Lamphel Police Station, urging necessary action. Unfortunately, no response was received. A reminder was dispatched on September 9, 2023, but, once again, it went unanswered.

Subsequently, on October 2, 2023, the police issued a notice to Singh, summoning him to appear at Churachandpur Police Station for investigative purposes. Regrettably, Singh failed to comply with this notice. As a result, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to establish contact with him, the court decided to issue a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.

The court also issued directives to the Superintendent of Police in Churachandpur to ensure the timely execution of this order. The warrant is returnable by November 9, 2023, marking a significant development in the legal proceedings against Pramot Singh.

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