Eight cadres arrested in connection with ADC member killing remanded to 10 days police custody
IMPHAL, July 26: All eight NSCN (IM) cadres arrested in connection with the killing of Ukhrul ADC member Ngalangzar Malue have been remanded to further 10 days of police custody.
The eight were arrested a day after the ADC member was killed in an ambush on July 12 near Finch Corner, Ukhrul and produced before the CJM, Imphal East on July 14. They were remanded to 13 days of police custody which concluded today.
The NSCN (IM) cadres were, this afternoon, produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate/ Imphal East.
During today’s hearing, the police sought further custody of the eight, which induced the court to demand an explanation.
The police said that some of the investigations initiated during the 13 day custody were incomplete and they need more time to complete the investigations.
Certain sections in the FIR no 14 (7) 2014 registered against the eight have also been changed, the police said before continuing that the documents seized during the arrest of the NSCN (IM) cadres could be about a truckload and verification work has taken much time.
The court asked with whose permission, the sections in the FIR were changed and further advised the police to increase the number of personnel investigating the case to 10 or more personnel instead of just four-five personnel investigating.
The court also asked the eight accused, if they have anything to say and whether they have hired any counsel to represent them.
The court also asked them why only ammunitions were recovered from their possession and why not guns and whether they were using only sticks instead of guns.
In their reply, one of the eight said the guns have been taken to their office and as for guarding the office, they use only sticks.
Regarding the hiring of a counsel, he said they have no idea.
On the other hand, when the media tried to take pictures/ videos of the eight accused and the exhibits recovered from them, personnel of the Imphal West district police denied coverage.
Following the denial, the media submitted a written application to the CJM seeking permission for the same, which was granted.
It may be mentioned that the Tamenglong Police Station has been seeking formal arrest of one of the eight accused regarding a case, while the Phungyar police has also been seeking formal arrest of another accused, however, since all eight have been remanded to police custody, the prayers were not granted today.
The eight have been identified as as self styled sergeant Wangkepam Raiping, self styled sergeant major Esacher Ejao, self styled corporal VL Singregam, self styled private Winky, self styled lance corporal Sepachi, self styled private Longji, self styled lance corporal Somrei and self styled sergeant K Hareithing Mung.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/court-consents-to-police-prayer-for-further-custody-of-nscn-im-cadres/