IMPHAL, July 31: The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East today heard an appeal filed by the father of the former president of the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) Kangleipal, strongly objecting the petition by Porompat Police Station in the court to declare Kangleipal as a fugitive.
The Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Porompat Police Station, RK Khomdon has pleaded with the court of CJM, W Tonel to declare Kangleipal as a person who has taken flight. Objecting to the plea, Sapam Shyamsundar, the father of Kangleipal has filed a complaint in the court.
The SDPO has filed the petition based on an official report recorded by the Sub-Inspector who was on duty at Security Ward No 2 of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Porompat. Kangleipal reportedly escaped from the ward where he was detained under heavy security. He made a daring escape after breaking a grilled window of the security ward on the intervening night of December 28 and 29, 2008.
Shyamsundar stated that his son’s hands and legs were heavily chained when he was in the security ward and the police report that he has taken flight is baseless because it seems the police had freed him from the ward.
Against the circumstances, the police are frequently threatening and harassing his family to appear before the court in connection with the disappearance of his son, Shayamsundar mentioned.
He also pleaded that an inquiry be conducted pertaining to the sudden disappearance of his son from the security ward before declaring his son as a fugitive.
The proceedings in the court on the appeal by Shyamsundar were not made available to the media.
Kangleipal was arrested by a police team led by Officer-in-charge of Imphal Police RK Khomdon from Manipur Press Club, Imphal on sedition charges on May 5, 2008 while he was attending a function at the Press Club. He was charged under Section 124 (A) of Indian Penal Code, Section-IX of Punjab Security Act and Section-VIII (B) of Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act.