IMPHAL, Nov 23: Security forces have arrested at least six cadres of different underground groups including a woman cadre and recovered various arms from the possession of the arrested cadres in the past three days from separate operations.
Of the most sensational was the arrest by Bishenpur police commandos of a rifleman of the 8th Manipur Rifles who is said to be involve in extortion activities from the general public with a lady accomplice on November 21.
Speaking at a press conference held today at the Bishnupur SP office chamber, L Jayenta, SP Bishnupur said that the duo were involved in extortion in the name of KCP (MC) Lamngakpa and transaction of money through 24 bank accounts which were found in different names.
Jayenta said the arrested MR rifleman has been identified as Md. Slatur Rahman, 24, son of Md. Tomba of Lilong Haoreibi Awang Leikai (rifleman number 08200668) and his lady accomplice as Ningombam Premila Devi alias Ibemcha alias Victoria, 35, w/o N. Boyai Singh of New bazaar Lamka.
The SP further said that acting on specific information, the district police commandos on the intervening night of November 21 and 22, were able to nab Ningombam Premila Devi and recovered 28 bank accounts opened on different names from the arrested duo.
On preliminary interrogation, the apprehended women provided information based on which Md Salatur was arrested by the commandos.
He further mentioned that on further interrogation and verification the duo further revealed that they were working directly under one Oinam Shyam Singh, 32, son of O Gourakishore of Kumbi Awang Khunou and Wahengbam Tomba Singh, 34, son of W Menjor Singh of Kumbi Awang Leikai for the past one and a half years.
They also said they are actively involved in the collection money from the general public and the transaction of the extorted money to various cadres of the proscribed outfit.
The duo had managed to open as many as 24 saving accounts by using fake names and address in SBI, Bishnupur branch (18 savings account) and Punjab & Sind Bank, Irilbung branch (Six savings account).
In other incidents, according to a release of the ASP, Imphal East district on November 21 a team of Imphal East police commandos have arrested two cadres of the proscribed KCP (MC) Lamyanba Khuman group identified as Khumbongmayum Raju alias Bung alias Momo Singh, 32, son of (L) Kh Yaima Singh of Sagolband Ingudam Leikai and his wife Khumbongmayum (O) Victoria Devi, 26, from Lamlong area.
It has further stated that a .32 pistol marked as Petro & Brata “made in Italy” bearing no *A-01712 with one magazine loaded with one live round the possession of Khumbongmayum Raju. On further verification, the two disclosed to be working under the command of one Chanu of Thanga of KCP (MC) Lamyanba group.
It has further stated that in a separate incident on the same day a team of the Imphal East police commandos arrested one UNLF cadre identified as Huidrom Bashu alias maimu Meitei, 20, son of (L) H Juge Meitei of Yumnam Patlou from the Checkon area.
On further verification he disclosed that he joined the proscribed organization in the year 2005 through one Mani of Yumnam Patlou and was involved in extortion of money from the general public and transportation of party arms and ammunition, it added.
In yet another incident, a combined team of the 23 AR and the 12 MLI of 9 Sector under HQ IGAR (S) discovering the presence of underground activists in the general area of Tabungkok Awang Leikai of Imphal West district launched a joint operation in the area and apprehended one KYKL (MDF) cadres at around 11:50 pm on November 22.
A release of the PRO IGAR has identified the apprehended cadre as Amuchou alias Ibungo alias Shatihjal, 40, a resident of Tabungkhok Awang Leikai.
Meanwhile in another incident of the same day troop of 29 AR of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR (S) has apprehended two suspicious persons from a Maruti van (MN IW 7402) from the general area of Tengnoupal along NH 39 at around 5:30 pm.
It has further stated that on further questioning the two apprehended persons were found to be cadres of the proscribed KYKL. The two has been identified as Lt. Yumnam Singh, 50, son of Y Maimu Singh, resident of Irengbam Mamang Leikai, Nambol and Hidangmayum Landal Singh, 35, son of (L) Radhamohan Singh, resident of Chabung Company, Mayang Imphal.
One Nokia mobile, one duplicate seal of Gram Panchayat, voting card, fake driving licence, three photographs and a sum of Rs 300 were recovered from the apprehended persons. The two were later handed over to the Imphal West Police Station, added the release.