NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected a bail plea from Moirangthem Anand Singh, an alleged operative of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA), citing the “serious” nature of allegations related to a transnational conspiracy to destabilize Manipur.
The court ruled that granting bail to Singh, accused of waging war against the Indian government by exploiting ethnic unrest in Manipur, would pose a threat to national security and public order.
Singh was arrested in September 2023 by Manipur Police while travelling in a vehicle with four others, carrying sophisticated arms and ammunition in police camouflage. The weapons, including INSAS and SLR rifles, were allegedly part of a cache looted from government armories during the ongoing ethnic conflict in the border state.
The case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) following protests demanding Singh’s release. He is accused of being a senior PLA member, a proscribed terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Singh’s defense argued he was a “peace-loving family man” and a food business owner, claiming he was merely protecting his Meitei community as security forces were failing to do so. However, a Delhi High Court bench, comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Amit Sharma, determined that the prosecution had presented a prima facie case against him, supported by material evidence.
“Considering the volatile situation that exists in Manipur… it can clearly be said that enlarging the appellant on bail would not only entail flight risk but also the possibility of witnesses being influenced… as also deterioration of law and order,” the court stated. The court’s decision highlights the ongoing security concerns in Manipur and the government’s efforts to counter alleged terrorist activities in the region.
