Amid the imposition of an emergency shutdown on NH-37 by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) in response to arrests by central agencies, Delhi’s Patiala House Court has extended the custody of Seminlun Gangte, an accused in the Manipur violence case, by eight days. This development was reported by India Today NE.
It may be noted that Gangte was arrested in Manipur on Saturday, 30 September, in connection with a transnational conspiracy. This conspiracy involves the leadership of terror outfits based in Myanmar and Bangladesh, with the aim of waging war against the government of India by exploiting the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur. Initially, the court had remanded Seiminlun Gangte to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for two days. After spending two days in NIA custody, he was brought before the National Investigation Agency Special Court. After considering representations from the NIA and the accused, Special NIA Judge Sachin Gupta today extended the custody for eight more days, as reported. The special court also ordered the agency to provide a copy of the FIR to the accused’s attorney. Additionally, the special court granted permission for the accused’s attorney to visit him in NIA custody on alternate days.
According to the agency, the terror leadership has been providing funds for procuring arms, ammunition, and other terrorist hardware. These materials are sourced both across the border and from other terrorist outfits active in the northeastern states of India, with the aim of fueling the current ethnic strife in Manipur. The NIA has stated that further investigations into the matter are ongoing.