The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed chargesheet against five accused persons before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati, Assam, in a case related to loot of arms and ammunitions from Manipur Police Training College (MPTC), Pangei, Imphal on May 4, 2023.
In a release on Wednesday, the CBI said that it registered the said case on June 9, 2023 by taking over the investigation of FIR No. 54(5)2023 dated May 4, 2023 registered at Heingang Police Station, Imphal East, Manipur in compliance of the notifications issued by the state government of Manipur and by the government of India under DSPE Act, 1946.
The FIR alleged that a mob stormed into MPTC Pangei complex on May 4, 2023 and looted away a huge number of arms and ammunition from the MPTC armoury during the ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur, it said. Further investigation of the case is underway, the CBI added.
It added that the public is reminded that the above findings are based on the investigation done by CBI and evidence collected by it. Under Indian Law, accused are presumed to be innocent till their guilt is finally established after a fair trial, the release said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation said that those named in the chargesheet are Moirangthem Anand Singh, alleged to be a former member of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army of Manipur and the Kangleipak Communist Party (Noyon), Keisham Johnson, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha and Aathokpam Kajit.
The police armoury at the Manipur Police Training Centre at Pangei in Imphal was looted on May 4, the day ethnic clashes between the majority Metei community and tribal Kuki broke out in the state.
While Anand is in judicial custody, the fate of the other four was not immediately known.