Mokokchung, 22 September (MTNews): After a ‘Village Defense Volunteer’ was rearrested by the NIA today in Imphal, despite being granted bail by a special NIA judge earlier in the day, tensions flared at around 11:00 pm as local residents reportedly gathered to prevent the volunteer from being transported to Delhi. This led to a confrontation with security forces, who responded by deploying tear gas and rubber bullets, particularly along the Imphal airport road. As of the time of writing this report, the situation remained volatile.
It is worth noting that a special court had granted bail to five ‘village defense volunteers’ who were initially arrested by the Manipur Police on charges of possessing weapons on 16 September. This decision to release the volunteers on bail coincided with ongoing protests by Manipur residents, demanding the immediate release of these youths.
Defying curfew restrictions, hundreds of women gathered in front of the Cheirap court premises in Imphal West district during the hearing, demanding the immediate release of the five youths.
The court’s order stipulated that the accused must cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation, make themselves available to the investigating authorities, and refrain from influencing prosecution witnesses. Additionally, the court directed the youths not to leave the state of Manipur without obtaining prior permission.
In a significant move, the court rejected the remand plea from the Manipur Police for judicial custody, stating that none of the accused had engaged in any prejudicial activities against the state up to the time of their arrest.