A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Imphal granted bail to five armed miscreants arrested last week by the Manipur Police while they were travelling in police camouflage and with sophisticated arms and ammunition. The court ruled that while one of the accused, Moirangthem Anand Singh, belonged to a proscribed Meitei militant outfit, the police had failed to show any material that proved any of the accused had committed any terrorist acts.
Ever since the Unlawful Activities (Prohibition) Act was amended in 2008 to insert stringent provisions for bail, only a handful accused have been granted bail in UAPA cases — most either from the concerned High Court or the Supreme Court.
In the order, the court said, “The I.O. of the case cannot show strong prima facie case against all the accused persons for the commission of terrorist acts and prejudicial activities against the State attracting section 16 UA(P) Act and section 121-A of the IPC as of now.”
