Day after unrest in Imphal, five booked under UAPA given bail

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Manipur on Friday granted bail to five Meitei men who were booked under stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and whose arrest last week had sparked widespread violence and 48-hour shutdown in Imphal valley.

- Utpal Parashar

The five accused were released on bail after furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 and a surety of the like amount. The special judge, however, placed certain conditions, including asking the accused to co-operate with the investigation and not to leave Manipur without prior permission.

The five accused donned police uniforms at the time of their arrest on September 16. Two weaponsan INSAS rifle and a self-loading rifle, along with 128 rounds of ammunition, were recovered from them which, security officials said, were looted from police armouries in the initial days of the ethnic strife in Manipur in May and June.