Manipur court on Friday granted bail to five youths arrested for carrying arms, amid agitation for their release, news agency PTI reported. On September 16, Manipur Police took the five individuals into custody for possessing advanced weaponry and wearing camouflage uniforms. The police department issued a statement explaining that the suspects had been presented before a judicial magistrate and were subsequently remanded to police custody.
The men were released on bail upon furnishing a PR bond of Rs 50,000, subject to specific conditions stipulated by the court, as per PTI's report.
In its order, the court specified that the five accused individuals must fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation, make themselves available for questioning by the investigating authorities, and refrain from attempting to influence prosecution witnesses. Additionally, the court imposed a restriction barring the youths from leaving the state of Manipur without obtaining prior permission, it stated.
The court rejected a remand request from the Manipur police for judicial custody. The court ruled that, up until the time of their arrest, none of the accused individuals had engaged in any activities prejudicial to the state, the report mentioned.
The arrests led to protests in the twin districts of Imphal East and West. A curfew was imposed in these areas a day prior to the court's decision, resulting in a tense atmosphere. The curfew was enforced after demonstrators besieged local police stations, demanding the release of the detained youths.
During these protests, which occurred on Thursday, more than 30 individuals, including a majority of women, sustained minor injuries as they attempted to breach the police stations at Porompat and Heingang in Imphal East district, as well as Singjamei and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district, PTI reported. In response, security forces, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), deployed several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowds.
Authorities in both Imphal East and Imphal West districts have announced exemptions from the curfew for specific groups. These include municipal officials, employees in the electricity, health, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), and media personnel. Additionally, flight passengers en route to the airport are also not subject to the curfew's restrictions.
However, it should be noted that curfew restrictions have been eased in other parts of the Imphal valley, encompassing Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts. This move aims to facilitate the general public in procuring essential items, including medicines and food. In Thoubal district, curfew hours have been reduced from 5 am to 9 pm, while in Bishnupur, the curfew is in effect from 5 am to 5 pm.