AIMS volunteers freed, retaken into custody

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 19 : The Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West has ordered the release of four volunteers of Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Singpang Lup (AIMS) who allegedly locked the office Chief Engineer, Educational Engineering Wing Education (S), on a personal release bond of Rs 5 thousand and surety bond of 5 thousand each.
The volunteers were however taken into police custody in connection with the case as they failed to furnish their necessary PR and surety bond before the Court.
The volunteers of AIMS were arrested yesterday based on a he complaint lodged by the Chief Engineer, Educational Engineering Wing Education (S) Department to OC Imphal Police station that the office of Chief Engineer, Educational Engineering Wing Education (S) Department was locked at around 11.15 am by individuals who claimed themselves as members of AIMS.
 The arrested volunteers of AIMS were produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West through video conference with the prayer for remanding them to five days police custody for smooth investigation of the case.
After registering a case yesterday, the IO had visited the spot and examined the collapsible gate of the office which had been locked. The lock was forcibly opened by the police who also seized the numbers of broken lock by observing formalities in presence of witnesses.
The police then freed five employees D Paokhothang (CDA), Laimayum Bijen-kumar (computer operator), L Bomilkanta (computer operator), Wahengbam Shangoi (Assistant Architect) and RK Ringku (SO) who were confined inside the office for about an hour.
On examination, the freed employees revealed that they were threatened by the unknown persons that they will bear/face their own responsibility, if any individual is against the organization. On further investigation of the case, four volunteers of AIMS identified as Oinam Nikarson (21) of Nambol Leimapokpam, Longjam Thoithoiba (22) of Wangoi Thounaojam Leikai, Thoudam Nongalakpa (20) of Thongju Beni Leirak and Waikhom Saiyomba (22) of Kyamgei Mayai leikai were arrested. Upon interrogation, they admitted that they are members of AIMS and had locked the office under the instruction of Khumujam Romen and Huidrom Banerjee who are the president and secretary respectively of AIMS. The Court after hearing the submission of the IO of the case and on perusal of the case record, ordered the police to release them on PR bond of Rs 5 thousand and surety bond of 5 thousand each.
AIMS says police act unfortunate
AIMS on the other demanded unconditional release of its volunteers. In a statement, AIMS said that they had earlier submitted representation to the Chief Minister seeking intervention over the alleged anomaly in the department regarding an architectural issue. Instead of taking necessary action against the officials involved, the arrest of the volunteers who locked the concerned office as a mark of protest, was unfortunate and unnecessary use of force. If the volunteers are not released without conditions at the earliest, AIMS is very much prepared to launch "Meeyam gi Eehou" with other CSOs, it said.