The District and Session Judge, Imphal West on Monday remanded an active militant of the banned outfit PREPAK, a valley-based underground group of Manipur, to 12-day judicial custody in connection with an ambush incident that took place at New Somtal area near Hengshi village in Chandel district in 2016.
The convoy was attacked by heavily armed militants in the Joupi Hengshi area. Six 29 Assam Rifles personnel were killed in the ambush laid by militants in Manipur’s Chandel district near the India-Myanmar border.
The cadre, Soraisam Boycha Rakesh (32 years), son of (L) Soraisam Samungou Meitei of Sairemkhun Maning Lelkai, Imphal East district, was arrested on June 27 with a report received from SP, Imphal West on June 16.
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From the interrogation statement of the accused person, who was arrested in c/w FIR No. 12(6)2022 Chandel PS, he was also found to be actively involved in the ambush.
The court, after hearing the submission of special PP stated that there are sufficient materials to presume that the accused person committed the alleged offence. Therefore, the accused was remanded into judicial custody.
It may be mentioned that, before the Special Court NIA, Manipur, the IO of the case submitted that during the investigation, the accused admitted the offence and stated that he was an active member of the banned outfit PREPAK, a valley-based underground group of Manipur, India. He did his Basic Military Training (BMT) at JAGA, the banned outfit’s Training Centre in Myanmar, from first week of April 2012 upto first week of July 2012, a period of 3 (three months).
The undernoted army number is 3906249, he is presently S/S Surgeon Major. He was given promotion during the function of its Raising Day celebration on October 9, 2021. He is presently assigned for the duty MIU (Military Intelligence Unit), the IO said.
He further revealed that on May 22, 2016, around forenoon, he along with other 25 JFF (Joint Fighting Force) cadres, led by S/S Lt. Ahingcha of RPF/PLA outfit, carried out the ambush on 29 Assam Rifles in the southern part of Hengshi village near Joupi, which falls under the Khengjoi Sub-Division, Chandel.
The encounter lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes which resulted in the death of above-mentioned 1-JCO and five others of 29 Assam Rifles in bullets and during the encounter the Joint Fighting Force (JFF) managed to snatched the arms from the deceased Assam Rifles personnel.
The Special Court NIA, Manipur, on Monday, opined that besides his confession it is clear that the accused person is an active/core cadre of the banned outfit of PREPAK, well versed in all the weapons, also his involvement in the unlawful activity and attack on the Indian security forces is well established.
Further he concealed some facts on examination, so releasing him on bail at this hour will hamper the proper investigation in the case and remanded him in judicial custody.
