ELANGBAM RABI SINGH Vs. OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, WAIKHONG POLICE STATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition has been filed by the petitioner under Sec. 439 Cr.P.C. seeking bail in connection with FIR Case No.09(05)2022 under Sec. 17/18/20 of UA(P) Act on the file of WKG Police Station.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that on 22/5/2022, Shri N.Dilip Singh, Head Constable, CDO Unit Kakching reported that he received a reliable information about the presence of valley based underground members at Elangkhangpokpi area. On receiving information, a team of CDO unit under the command of Inspector Shri Abash Khan and under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Shri Binoy Chongtham and overall supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Kakching Shri Shrey Vats rushed to the area and conducted search at suspected areas. During search, one person was detained for verification at Yangdong. On verification, he identified himself as Elangbam Rabi Singh (petitioner herein), who is an active cadre of UNLF. He also stated that he joined the banned organisation through one Erei while he was working at Moreh in January, 2022 and he was tasked to carry out extortion for the banned organisation in Kakching District. He further disclosed that he met one Meiraba of Chajing Khunou, Sugnu, in the month of April, 2022 at Yangdong and that Meiraba was also tasked to carry out extortion along with him. Immediately, he was arrested at 9.40 p.m. and on body search, one Redmi Ye mobile phone with IMEI 1:868559042049110 and IMEI 2: 868559042049128 was found and the same was seized after observing formalities.

(3.) Further case of the prosecution is that immediately the team rushed to Chajing Khunou area and cordoned off the area. During the said operation, one person was detained and on verification, he was identified as Mutum Meriraba and on further verification, the said person disclosed that he joined the party through one Munaidraba, presently staying in Myanmar and a member of UNLF during the month of March, 2022. He stated that he was in regular contact with Munaidraba through Whatsapp and was tasked to collect the contact numbers of businessman in Kakching District area and in Imphal area also. He further stated that he along with the petitioner (Rabi) were to collect extortion money from the businessmen in Sugnu area and after collection of extortion money, Meiraba was to send the same to the bank accounts, which were to be informed later using his current bank account at Axis Bank, Kakching. The team also arrested Meiraba at 11.00 p.m. and seized (1) One plus mobile phone with IMEI 1: 865300040232017 and IMEI 2: 865300040232009; (2) One POCO mobile phone with IMEI 1: 868842056298470 and IMEI 2: 868842056298488; (3) One ASUS Laptop silver in colour. Thereafter, the arrested persons along with the seized articles were handed over for taking further action.