The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against seven individuals allegedly involved in the looting of arms and ammunition from the Bishnupur police armoury in Manipur last year, confirmed officials.
The accused, named in the charge sheet, include Laishram Prem Singh, Khumukcham Dhiren alias Thapkpa, Moirangthem Anand Singh, Athokpam Kajit alias Kishorjit, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha alias Michael, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei alias Romojit, and Keisham Johnson alias Johnson.
The incident, which occurred on August 3 last year, saw a mob making off with more than 300 weapons, 19,800 rounds of ammunition, and various other accessories from the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion headquarters in Naranseina, Bishnupur.
Among the loot were an AK series assault rifle, 'Ghaatak' rifles, self-loading rifles, MP-5 guns, pistols, bulletproof jackets, carbines, and hand grenades, totaling to significant firepower.
While Singh and Thapkpa were not implicated in the Bishnupur incident, the remaining five were earlier charged by the CBI in connection with a similar looting incident at the Manipur Police Training Centre in Pangei, Imphal, on May 4 last year.
Anand Singh, a former member of the proscribed People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur and the Kangleipak Communist Party (Noyon), is among those accused.
The accused were arrested by the Manipur Police in September last year for allegedly extorting money while posing as law enforcement officers and wielding sophisticated weapons.
Following a court order, five of them were released, while Singh was apprehended by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and transported to New Delhi.
Singh stands accused of having ties with Myanmar-based rebel groups and plotting to incite unrest in Manipur. The fate of the other six individuals remains uncertain.
The Supreme Court, in response to petitions related to the Manipur clashes, directed the transfer of all CBI cases from Manipur to Assam.
This move came amidst escalating violence in the state, triggered by a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3, 2023, which resulted in 219 casualties.
The conflict revolves around the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community, primarily concentrated in the Imphal Valley, while the hill districts are predominantly inhabited by Nagas and Kukis.
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