New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against five persons over their alleged involvement in a case of looting arms and ammunition from police during the ethnic clashes in Manipur last year, news agency PTI reported.
As per the probe agency, those named in the chargesheet are Moirangthem Anand Singh, reportedly a former member of the proscribed People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur and Kangleipak Communist Party (Noyon), Keisham Johnson, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha and Aathokpam Kajit.
According to the PTI report, these five persons had been arrested by Manipur Police in September last year for allegedly extorting money in the guise of police personnel. Their arrest had also triggered a protest that continued for two days.
However, the five were released following a court order but later Singh was picked up the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and placed under arrest over alleged connection with Myanmar-based rebel groups and conspiring to wage war against India by exploiting the clashes in Manipur, PTI reported.
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“As alleged in the FIR, a mob stormed into MPTC Pangei complex on May 4 and looted away a huge number of arms and ammunition from the MPTC armoury during the ethnic conflict which broke out in Manipur,” a press release issued by CBI said.
According to PTI, the NIA had filed a suo motu case against Singh on July 19 last year. Probe revealed that the proscribed terror outfits were recruiting people as ground workers, members and sympathisers to boost their strength and carry out attacks on security forces by exploiting the unrest in the northeast state.
Notably, the Supreme Court had transferred all CBI cases from Manipur to Assam in August last year and the chargesheet was submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati.