CBI Files Charge Sheet Against 7 in Manipur Arms Looting Case

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against seven individuals in connection with the looting of arms and ammunition from the Bishnupur police armoury during the Manipur ethnic violence last year.

The accused have been identified as 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 CBI submitted the charge sheet before the court of chief judicial magistrate in Kamrup (Metro) in Assam’s Guwahati. This move comes after a mob had looted more than 300 weapons, 19,800 rounds of ammunition, and other accessories from two rooms of the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion headquarters at Naranseina in Bishnupur on August 3 last year.

The incident occurred amidst escalating ethnic tensions in Manipur, with a crowd gathering to march towards Churachandpur where tribals were planning a mass burial for those killed in the clashes that began on May 3 of the same year.