By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 23: The court of the District and Sessions Judge, Shillong, Noor Ain Khan, on Tuesday granted bail to social activist, Joannes Lamare, who was arrested on September 17 for alleged subversive activities which involved seeking help from Naga rebel group NSCN-IM to form a new militant group.
Even though the bail was granted on Tuesday, Lamare was finally released from Shillong District Jail on Wednesday night. The seven co-accused, who were arrested in the same case, are yet to get bail.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Lamare’s legal counsel, Fenela L Nonglait, said the bail was granted by the court under UAPA. “We are happy that we have managed to get the bail,” Nonglait said.
The legal counsel also clarified that it is an individual bail and that she is not handling the case of the remaining seven co-accused.
She said that they are waiting for the notice of the court so that the trial of this case can start.
It was also informed that the police are yet to file the charge sheet.
On the other hand, Lamare preferred not to clarify on the charges levelled against him. “I will speak on this at an appropriate time. I hope that the court will give a fair trial to prove my innocence,” he said.
However, Nonglait stepped up to announce that she will challenge the various charges against Lamare, even as she added that her legal team is ready to go for trial whenever they receive the notice from the court.
“I am very confident that we can get this case out,” Fenela said.
Interestingly, she also revealed that this is the first time that the state government and the police have implicated an accused under UAPA.
It may be recalled that the bail plea was kept in abeyance by the lower court after the police said they would need the accused to make more arrests in the case.
The police case diary contains only the FIR against the four. It makes mention that the SF-10 arrested them after receiving inputs that they were travelling from Guwahati to Shillong with dubious intention.
According to the case diary, the police had claimed that the four people admitted to their links with top NSCN-IM leaders, the sources said.
They further said that it is based on the confession of the quartet that the police are looking to arrest more people.
Apart from Lamare, the three other arrested people are Vicky Mawnai (30) from Saitsohpen, Sohra; Everpearl Mawsor (34) from Rengmaw, Shallang in West Khasi Hills and Aloysius Syiemlieh from Wahkaliar, Sohra.
Earlier, the Mawlai Police had registered a case under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the Government of India), 121A (conspires to commit any offence punishable by Section 1210 and 34 (common intention) against the accused.