Thoubal: 3 accused in Khangabok Rakesh killing sent to judicial custody

The three men arrested in connection with the killing of Laishram Rakesh, a 25-year-old from Khangabok in Manipur's Thoubal district, have been remanded to judicial custody until November 13.

The accused were produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Thoubal, on Saturday, October 31, after their police custody remand ended, The Sangai Express and Imphal Times reported. It was their second appearance before the court.

What happened on October 18

Rakesh, of Khangabok Part II Mayai Leikai, died after a firing incident that followed an altercation during a musical concert at the CYSA club ground in Khangabok Part III Cherapur, under Thoubal Police Station, on the night of October 18. He was shot and later succumbed to his injuries.

According to The Sangai Express, the three arrested so far are Md Khurshid Ahamed (29), Md Abdul Rahaman alias Apik (46) and Aribam Sherkhan (38), all from the Sangaiyumpham area. They have been arrested on suspicion of involvement; the case is under investigation and no chargesheet has been filed yet.

Crowd outside the court

As word spread that the accused would be produced on Saturday, a large number of women, local residents and members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed over the killing gathered outside the court complex at Khangabok and raised slogans demanding the harshest punishment.

Police, including a large contingent of women personnel, closed the court gates and stopped the crowd from entering the premises. No untoward incident was reported.

JAC convenor Laishram Kiran told reporters that everyone involved in the killing should be punished according to law, and urged the police to file the chargesheet at the earliest. Protesters warned that the agitation would be intensified if their demands were not met.

Background

The killing sparked protests in Thoubal and a 48-hour general strike called by the JAC across Manipur from October 23. Rakesh's last rites were performed on October 27 after an agreement between the JAC and the state government, and Chief Minister Khemchand Singh later visited the bereaved family and appealed for peace and harmony.