Imphal, May 22: Suggesting that it would prove much more beneficial to bring back two UNLF cadres from Tihar Jail to Manipur, MPP MLAs O Joy and Dr Bijoy today opined on the floor of the House today that since the two militants are wanted in a number of cases in the State, it would be better to bring them back here where their trial can be held.

The two UNLF leaders, Ph Ghanasyam and Moirangthem Jayantakumar were arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport while they were trying to proceed to Kathmandu by a team of Delhi police on August 2 last year and have since been lodged at Tihar jail.

Moving a motion in the Assembly today, MPP MLA O Joy said that since a number of punishable criminal cases are lodged against the two militants in different police stations of the State, it would be more productive to bring them back here where they can be put on trial.

Elaborating O Joy said that there are at present five FIR cases lodged against Ph Ghanashyam while another nine such cases are lodged against Jayantakumar.

The State Home Department should take up the necessary initiatives and bring them to Imphal on judicial remand so that legal process can be taken up , suggested O Joy.

Supporting the motion raised by Joy, Ng Bijoy said that the two militants need to be brought to Imphal to face due trials as there are a number of cases pending against them here.

Ghanashyam has already been proclaimed an absconder by the Imphal police while a warrant of arrest has already been issued against Jayantakumar in 1992 by Imphal police, informed Dr Bijoy.

The MLA questioned whether the State Government will not put the two under any trial despite the numerous cases pending against them.

Citing an example, Dr Bijoy said that Abu Salem who was arrested in Portugal has been extradited to India where he is undergoing trial and added that likewise the two UNLF cadres ought to be brought back here for trial.

They can be taken to Delhi when and if the need arises, he added.

After hearing the points put up by the two MLAs, the Speaker of the Assembly said that since the matter involves a number of criminal cases, the Government will give its statement after consulting legal experts and closed the matter for the day.

Significantly sitting MLA from Andro Th Shyamkumar was also arrested along with the said duo and he was granted bail following his election to the Assembly.

Comment