The Manipur High Court on Thursday asked the General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 3 Corps to produce before it Lieutenant Colonel Dharamvir Singh, who was allegedly detained by the Army on July 1. The court issued the order based on a habeas corpus petition filed by Singh’s wife, Ranju, The Indian Express reported.
Ranju has claimed that the Army abducted Singh because he accused his superiors of extortion and carrying out fake encounters, The Times of India reported. Specifically, she accused Lieutenant Colonel Nanda and Major Rathod of kidnapping Singh from the couple’s quarters on Sunday morning.
The court on Thursday also asked Nanda and Rathod to appear before it. The officers have been charged with Section 27 of the Arms Act for wrongful confinement, kidnapping and concealment with criminal conspiracy by using arms.
However, the Army called the allegations “baseless” and said it was an attempt to malign the image of the institution.
The Army claimed that Singh was posted in Dimapur but was sent on a temporary assignment to Manipur. Singh was provided with an official vehicle and a protection party and he returned to Rangapahar village in Dimapur at 9 pm on July 1 and resumed his regular duties.
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