The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West on Friday released three persons who were arrested on alleged charges of unauthorised selling of arms upon their furnishing PR bond of Rs 1,00,000 each with a surety bond of like amount.
The three persons namely, Shyamsal Sanasam @ Nanao Meitei (30), S/o S Sanatomba Meitei of Hiyangthang Maning Leikai; Waikhom Nganglentomba @ Gogo (47), S/o (L) W Thambalngou Meitei of Thangmeiband Lourungpurel Leikai and R.K Solomon @ Amon Singh (47), S/o R. K Thambousana Singh of Thangmeiband Lourungpurel Leikai were arrested on February 4 with the allegation that they were active members of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and were involved in an illegal transaction of arms and ammunition.
After remanding them to 11-day police custody, the assisting IO of the case produced them before the court through video conference along with the prayer for remanding them in judicial custody for a period of 15 (fifteen) days till February 28. However, all the accused persons had filed their remand objection petitions praying to the court to release them on bail.
During the prosecution, the court stated that the prosecution has alleged in their remand petition that Sanasam, in collusion with Okram Bhogendro@ Thoiba, was involved in the unauthorised arm selling of 0.45 Glock 21. But the prosecution has not come before the court with clean hands or there seems to have been negligence or indifference in the process of investigation as the prosecution are not able to explain whether Okram Bhogendro@ Thoiba Singh was present in the same vehicle when Sanasam was arrested, the Court stated.
APP for the state submitted that as per the documents available on record, no specific allegations are made against the three accused persons engaging in violence or attempting to incite the violence or to create disorder. Hence, no prima facie case is made out against the 3 (three) accused persons U/S 20 U.A (P) Act.
However, none of the Counsels for the accused persons denied the fact that the three accused persons were attempting to sell one pistol illegally and seizure of the pistol from the possession of Waikhom Nganglentomba @ Gogo through the leading of RK Solomon@ Amon Singh.