By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Court of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner (Judicial) has remanded GNLA ‘chairman’ Champion R Sangma to 15 days of police custody after he was produced before the court on Sunday.
“We have decided not to oppose the move to seek fresh police custody since as per the law a person can be kept a maximum of 30 days under police custody. We would definitely oppose if there is a fresh move to seek for any extension of police custody if he is again produced before the court on the next date,” sources close to the GNLA ‘chairman’ said.
Meanwhile, Champion’s lawyer Sujit Dey submitted written arguments on behalf of his client before the court during the hearing. In his two-page written argument, the lawyer claimed that interrogators had violated a Supreme Court guideline as laid down in DK Basu versus the State of West Bengal case by not disclosing their identity during the course of the interrogation.
In the written arguments, Champion pleaded the Court to allow him to read newspapers and view news channels or to provide him with a radio. The same was filed as a petition before the Court on Sunday.
Earlier, the militant leader was brought to the Court by the Additional Director General of Police, in-charge CID, and the Investigating Officer, KC Prasad, together with a posse of police commandoes.
Champion’s brother Brilliant Sangma was also present in the Court room during the hearing.
Meanwhile, to a query by the Court, Dey said the police department was yet to inform the arrested rebel leader whether his application regarding presence of his lawyer during interrogation had been accepted or not.
Earlier, Champion was remanded in police custody for 14 hours following his arrest from Umkrem Pyrdiwah axis area on the Indo-Bangla border on July 30.
Champion has been booked under various non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code for waging war against the Indian state and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
