Charge reserved

IMPHAL, Oct 15: Special Judge NIA Manipur has reserved the charge orders till October 26 on the 2nd Manipur Rifles arms missing case.
The NIA Court reserved the charge order after hearing the charges levelled against all the accused persons including Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip and KRA Chief David Hangsing in the chargesheets submitted by the NIA (National Investigation Agency). The Court had been hearing the case continuously from October 3.
One of the accused persons, Thokchom James @ Tonao was produced before the Court through video conference from Manipur Central Jail while others, Laishram Anilkumar and Paonam Shantikumar were represented by their Counsel and filed applications for dispensing their personal appearance.
Accused NP Damudaran and H Talung Pungphinamei were represented by their respective Counsels.
Accused and self style KRA chief David Hangsing, Ngamboi Haokip, H Brojendro, L Damodor and M Hiranjoy Sharma were present in person before the Court.
Counsel of Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip filed a written argument against the charges levelled in the chargesheet of NIA.
The Court after hearing the submission of both parties reserved the order of the charges  till October 26.
It may be noted that 56 auto 9mm pistols along with 58 magazines were found missing from the arms kote of 2nd Manipur Rifle between 2014 and 2018 and the State Government in March 2018 had decided to hand over the investigation to NIA. Soon after, the NIA took into custody those who were arrested earlier by State Police. The NIA later arrested Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip and KRA self styled chief David Hangsing in August 2018. The NIA had submitted chargesheets against 8 accused persons before the Special Court NIA on September 25, 2018 and framed charges against them on October 1, 2018. Later, supplementary chargesheet of NIA was submitted before the same Court on January 28, 2019 against Yamthong Haokip, David Hangsing, Thokchom Diamond and Lunkhonson Haokip. Some of the accused persons including Yamthong Haokip and David Hangsing are currently out on bail.
The same Court on August 27 last year had also declared self styled chairman of UKLF Lunkhoson Haokip @ Soson @ SS Haokip (47) of Khangbarol village Tengnoupal  as a proclaimed absconder in connection with the missing arms case.