Special Judge NIA Manipur RK Memcha on Monday sentenced two active cadres of a banned underground group to five years' rigorous imprisonment for a grenade attack at the gate of Raj Bhavan, Imphal on January 19, 2021.
The convicts have been identified as Lisham Ibosana @ Kengba @ Micheal @ Red (42), son of (L) Samungou of Khongman Lisham Leikai and Konsam Manithoi, 46, son of Bihari of Lairikyengbam Leikai Salanthong. They are booked under Section 307/ 120B IPC, Section 16/18/20/38 UA (P) Act and Section 4 of Explosive Substance Act.
The charges framed against the convicts were explained by the Court in the presence of their counsels and both the convicts pleaded guilty.
During the sentence hearing, special PP submitted before the court that accused Lisham Iboshana Meitei @ Jojo @ Michael @ Kengba @ Red has been convicted under sections 16, 18, 20, 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and under Section 120-B of the IPC; while accused Konsam Manithoi Singh has been convicted under Sections 18, 20, 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, under section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and under sections 307 and 120-B of the IPC.
The prosecutor further stated that the said offences are against the state and people with a view to terrorise people and hence, prayed for sentencing both the convicts to maximum terms as dictated by the respective sections of law, under which they are convicted.
However, the legal aid counsel of both the convicts countered that they have no antecedents and both pleaded guilty as charged during the hearing. As such, the defence counsel pleaded for due consideration of this act for both convicts.
The defence counsel also prayed for setting aside the period of custody of the respective convicts from the quantum of punishment, so awarded. It is also submitted that both the convicts committed the offences without knowing the outcome and no casualty was caused “fortunately”.
After hearing both parties and weighing the nature of the offences, the Judge observed that to enable both the convicts to return to the mainstream, a minimum sentence may be awarded to both.
Both the convicts were arrested from their respective residences on January 24, 2021 and eight circuit boards and two remote control units used in assembling the Improvised Explosive Device were seized from their possession. The investigation of the case was handed over to the NIA by an order of the Home Affairs Ministry.
