Former Manipur Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president M Barish Sharma, who was arrested and jailed was arrested under section 25(1-A) Arms Act Prisoner, was on Saturday released.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Imphal East Ashem Tarunakumari Devi ordered the superintendent of Manipur Central Jail, Imphal, to release Barish Sharma after a payment of Rs 50,000 personal bond.
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Speaking to media at Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, Imphal, Barish alleged that his arrest was politically motivated and claimed that there was no other reason for his arrest.
“My arrest was politically charged as I have not committed any crime; I am not involved in the workings of the government but I was targeted by people with vested political interests,” he said.
As such, he appealed to all politicians and political parties not to indulge in narrow politics when the state was boiling with tension. Politics should be for the betterment of society, not to target personal enemies, he added.
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He recounted that several personnel clad in police uniforms barged into his residence without prior information and arrested him from his bedroom.
“The event occurred at the dusk of May 27 when several personnel forcefully entered my family residence; the police team even assaulted my security team and harassed my family members,” he said.
He added that he was arrested at gunpoint by the police team and noted that the officer-in-charge of Porompat Police station had escorted him to Imphal West Police station.
Barish alleged that around Rs 8 lakh along with two gold bars were confiscated by the police team that arrested him and added that the whereabouts of his properties is still unknown.
“My license gun and the firearms of my security team were also confiscated,” he said.
Hence, he questioned the nature of his arrest and continued why his security team and family were assaulted and harassed.
He, however, maintained his innocence and expressed gratitude to CJM Imphal East for ordering his timely release.
“I wish whoever arrested me had shown the same zeal and courage in protecting Manipur at this crucial juncture; they should be fighting the Kuki terrorist not running an insignificant individual like me,” he added.
