IMPHAL April 27: The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) conducted a surprise raid at the Lamyanba Publication Trust campus located at Palace Compound today. The Lamyanba compound houses Ireibak newspaper, Lamyanba Sanglen, Lamyanba gymnasium and Lamyanba Polo Club.
The NIA team seized papers from the Ireibak office containing audit reports for the year 2007 till 2011, papers regarding issue of ISBN numbers for publishing agency, certificate of registration, order of SDO Imphal East, meeting notices, photocopy of gift deed bearing registration number 2394 of 1980.
One hard disk, Samsung model no.40503HI (500 gb) and one dairy 2003 having 162 pages were also seized from the Ireibak office according to the seizure list given to the manager of the press Taorem Mangi by the NIA team.
The search list mentions that the articles were seized and the raid conducted under the provision of section 100(6) of the criminal procedure code under NIA case number 10/2010, incidentally, the said case number is the same as the one registered by the NIA against UNLF chairman Rk Meghen, advocate Gunadhor appearing on behalf of the imprisoned separatist leader confirmed from Guwahati in a telephonic conversation with IFP.
Further, the search has been conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by the judge of the special NIA court, Assam and endorsed in the name of NIA Superintendent of Police namely one Pani on April 19 last. The raid was conducted by deputy SP (NIA), Devinder Singh and SI Md. Salauddin of the same agency. The NIA team was assisted by M Rajendra, senior accountant and auditor H Phentom, both from the office of the AG (Audit), Manipur.
It can be mentioned that the raid began at 9.50 am today and lasted till 4.30 pm. The Lamyanba complex was surrounded from all sides by CRPF personnel including some state police personnel and no one was allowed entry inside the compound.
At the time of arrival of the NIA team, there were six printing technicians inside the Ireibak office, they were herded into a room and the NIA team conducted the raid by themselves only. Three almirahs were opened by the team and the printing staffs were called out when the need arose. They also checked the computer files and other official documents of Ireibak press. No damage or injury occurred to any person or property during the raid.
Media persons held a stake out at the front of Ireibak campus awaiting developments, it was observed that the two NIA officials were busy and made frequent to and fro trips from the Ireibak office to the Lamyanba Sanglen, they also rummaged through a cupboard inside the Sanglen amidst the raid carried out at Ireibak office. One NIA official was seen being driven in and out of the campus. Reliable sources revealed that the officer was visiting the board members of the Lamyanba Trust to ascertain facts. The search has been conducted after following all legal procedures. Due to the raid, the Ireibak office remained shut and the working of the media persons were affected.
