Bail granted

IMPHAL, Jun 6: The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East has passed an order to release the chief of Nongmaipal village and six other villagers including three women on bail after execution of necessary PR bond and surety.
They were arrested yesterday for allegedly obstructing the Government officers on duty and assaulting volunteers who took part in a tree plantation drive carried out at Eshing Chaiba area of Nongmeiching reserved forest.
The alleged accused persons identified as village chief Jangkhosat Haokip (73), Boipu Chiru (50), Khaineh Haokip (38), Khamunlen Haokip (28), Mrs Lalam Haokip (35), Mrs Boilhing Guite (30) and Mrs Chachan Haokip, all from Nongmaipal village were produced before the Court by a team of Lamlai police station along with a prayer for judicial custody remand for smooth investigation of the case.
On the other hand, counsels of the accused persons filed remand objection along with a prayer for releasing them on bail.
The IO of the case submitted that a team of the Central Forest Division, local environmentalists and students were observing the World Environment Day 2022 by planting tree saplings at Esing Chaiba area yesterday when they were stopped by a group of villagers led by village chief Jangkhosat Haokip claiming that the reserved forest area belongs to them.
After convincing the villagers, plantation was initiated by all present at the site.
However, a group of villagers came running up the hill slope and pulled down the banner put up for the occasion and started attacking forest officials and other participants.
The situation soon turned violent at around 11 am and some students got injured.
The IO further stated that a police team which rushed to the site found many villagers armed with sticks and daos and they were arrested on the spot but the incident had been already flashed on Facebook and went viral.
The Court, on perusal of the case record and after hearing both the parties, passed an order to release the accused persons on bail on execution of necessary PR bond and surety.