IMPHAL, Aug 18: Former JCILPS convener Khomdram Ratan has been remanded to police custody till August 26.
He was produced before JMIC, Imphal West today afternoon after he was pulled up by a large police team from Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall, where he was staging sit-in-protest along with his supporters, at around 11 last night.
Ratan was brought by a team of Imphal West district police to Lamphelpat Court complex at around 2 pm.
However, he was not brought down from the police vehicle to take inside the Court room for around one hour.
After hearing prosecution and defence counsels, the Court passed an order that stated that in execution of the warrant issued by the Court the IO of the case, Mayang Imphal SDPO Rameshwar produced accused Ratan before the Court under FIR number 85 (6) Singjamei police station under Section 121/121A/109/120-B/148/149/152/153-A/188/341 IPC, 3PDPP Act and under Section 18/20 of UA (P) Act.
The IO requested the Court to grant police remand of 15 days for further investigation.
The Court order mentioned that in a photo that went viral on social networking sites, the accused was seen together with three unknown persons holding a flag of banned UNLF as if they were swearing allegiance in the presence of Nongyai, secretary of UNLF.
The order further said that the photo turned out to be genuine and free from photoshop when an opinion was sought from Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh.
As Ratan told the Court that he is a heart patient and he has high blood pressure, the Court directed the IO to have a proper check of Ratan’s health at RIMS or JNIMS.
On being enquired by the Court, Ratan acknowledged that he had been previously arrested in connection with FIR Number 206 (10) 2006 of Singjamei police station under Section 16/18/20/39 UP PA Act.
As he was taken towards police vehicle from the Court room after his Court appearance Ratan raised pro-ILPS slogans and urged the public to support him.
Ratan was pulled up by a large police team on a non-bailable warrant of arrest issued by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal West on August 2 to produce him before the Court on or before August 20.
The prayer for non-bailable arrest warrant was made by Mayang Imphal SDPO Rameshwar as a petitioner in connection with the FIR number 85 (6) Singjamei police station under Section 121/121A/109/120-B/148/149/152/153-A/188/341 IPC, 3PDPP Act and under Section 18/20 of UA (P) Act.
The order while quoting the petitioner’s submission said that at around 6.30 am of June 2, a picture of Kh Ratan (49) s/o (L) Kh Ibotombi Singh of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai (Convener of JCILPS) showing him taking oath of allegiance to the flag of banned UNLF was found uploaded on social media like Facebook and Whatsapp.
The photo clearly showed that the oath was administrated to Ratan and other three unknown cadres by UNLF organization secretary Nongyai.
The photo has become evidence of their having links with the said organization and indulging in prejudicial activities against the State.
The accused was instigating the innocent public to promote social unrest, rioting and enmity among different sections of people of Manipur in the recent past under the banner of JCILPS, the order said.
It further said that Ratan’s activities had created serious breaches of law and order, disturbances of public tranquillity and harmony with colossal damage to public properties and even loss of human lives.
The APP’s submission further said that efforts were made to arrest the accused. However, he was found absconding from his two houses located at Singjamei Kshetri Leikai and Bheigyabati Leikai.
Although arrest of Ratan was highly required for investigation of the case, he has been evading arrest, it added.
The warrant of arrest order mentioned that Ratan was earlier arrested on October 10, 2009 according to C/w FIR number 206 (10) 2009 of Singjamei police station under Section 16/18/20/39 U A (P) A Act for being a cadre of UNLF. Ratan was then remanded to police custody by the Duty Magistrate till October 16, 2009.
The interrogation statement of the accused revealed that he joined UNLF through self styled 2nd Lieutenant Umakanta and worked under him. He dealt with a financial scheme of the outfit known as ‘Phunga Marup’.
