Court orders non-bailable arrest warrant to Meitei Leepun chief Pramot, directs Churachandpur SP for timely execution of order

The Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Churachandpur, has issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Pramot Singh, Chief of Meitei Leepun, in a case related to an offence of rioting commited by him.

In the wake of ethnic violence in Manipur, an FIR was lodged against Pramot Singh at Churchandpur Police Station under section 153 A/153B/500/505 of Indian Penal Code for Promoting enmity between different groups, defamation and making statements conducing to public mischief.

In an interview to a senior journalist, Karan Thapar, for The Wire on 6th of June, 2023, the Meitei Leepun Chief, Pramot Singh, had said that all the Kukis would be wiped out or anihilated from the soil of Manipur, which created strong reaction from the Kuki-Zo community.

At the court hearing, the assistant public prosecutor submitted that during the course of investigation, the address of the accused person namely Pramot Singh was established as Nepali Basti Chingmeirong, Imphal West District, Manipur, which lies under the jurisdiction of Lamphel Police Station, Imphal West, and having its Office at Sana Konung, Imphal East District, Manipur.

The application of the Investigating Officer of the case also stated that due to the ongoing communal conflicts of the state which broke out on 3rd of May 2023, the accused person cannot be arrested at this juncture as the address of the accused falls under the jurisdiction of Lamphel Police Station, Imphal West District. Acccordingly, a message was sent to the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Station for taking necessary action.
Since there was no intimation received from the concerned Lamphel Police Station, a reminder for taking necessary action was sent and also for conducting of house search on September 9, 2023 under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). However, no intimation was received from the concerned police station.

After several attempts failed, a notice was also served to the accused person to appear in person before the investigating officer for the purpose of investigation on October 2, 2023 at 10:00 am at Churachandpur Police Station, but no reply or intimation or co-operation was received so far from the accused person.

Upon hearing of the case and on perusal of the material record, the Court issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against the accused. It also directed the Superintendent of Police, Churachandpur, for ensuring timely execution of the order which is returnable by November 9, 2023.