New Delhi, June 09: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld CBI's plea to allow production of an alleged Naga militant leader before a trial court here instead of in Manipur, where he is reportedly involved in the murder of three rival Meiti community members, because of a threat to his life.
The apex court also issued notice to the militant leader Hopeson Nigshen on CBI's plea for transfer of the trial in connection with the killings from Manipur to Delhi.
A vacation bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and Aftab Alam granted the plea after Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Saran submitted on behalf of CBI that Nigshen cannot be produced in a court in Manipur in view of the volatile situation in that state.
The investigation agency had also submitted that if produced in a trial court in Manipur, the accused faced an imminent threat to his life from his adversaries.
According to CBI, on February 17, 2009 Nigshen and other militants owing allegiance to NSCN (IM) faction abducted Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh, sub-divisional officer-cum-block development officer, Kasom Khullen, in Manipur's Ukhril district and five of his statf.
The militants allegedly let off two captives who belonged to the Naga community while killing Dr Kishan Singh and two others belonging to the Meiti community.
The killings resulted in ethnic tension between the Meities and Nagas and led to a series of bandhs in the Manipur. In view of the sensitivity of the killing, the state government transferred the case to CBI which subsequently arrested Nigshen on May 29.
As ethnic tension started mounting between the two communities, CBI shifted the militant leader to Delhi and has sought transfer of the trial to the capital.
Nigshen is said to be the Lt. Col of the Kiusumong battalion of the NSCN (IM )faction.
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