Four suspected cadres of armed insurgent group – National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) – were apprehended by security forces in Manipur along with arms and ammunition, police said on August 2.
A combined force of Bishnupur police commandos and troops of Assam Rifles apprehended the four suspected militants during an operation at Saiton and Torbung Bangala area under Moirang police station of Bishnupur district on August 1 evening.
Two of the suspected militants were arrested after a brief pursuit as they tried to escape to a motorcycle they came with, Bishnupur SP N Herojit Singh told reporters at a press conference on August 2.
He said that the combined team launched a cordon and search operation in Saiton and Torbung Bangala area on August 1 afternoon.
As a part of the operation, a team conducted a frisking and checking operation on an inter-village road at Saiton village. They signalled two youths coming on a motorcycle to spot.
Instead of stopping, the motorcycle sped up and the pillion rider took out a gun to attack the security personnel, the SP said.
The security personnel, however, chased them and overpowered minutes later.
The security force recovered a 9mm pistol (Sig Saur P228 Pistol) loaded with three live rounds from the possession of one of the cadres.
One of the bullets was found in the chamber of the pistol, the SP said.
On spot verification, they were identified as Angom Shantikumar (24) and Ningthoujam Khelemba Singh (24), both from Kumbi Haotak village of Bishnupur district.
The police officer claimed the two arrested youths as cadres of the NRFM who were involved in extortion activities, IED blasts and also in killing of a non- Manipuri in Churachandpur district recently.
In a follow up action to the statement given by the duo, a police commando team rushed to the house of another cadre of the same outfit at Kumbi Terakhong village and nabbed him.
The arrested cadre was identified as Wahengbam Marjit Singh alias Dingu (24). A 9mm pistol loaded with four live rounds also recovered from his possession, the SP said.
The SP claimed that he was one of the cadres of the NRFM directly involved in the recent killing of a non-Manipur in Churachandpur district headquarters.
He was also involved in the recent planting of an IED at a pharmacy at RIMS Road, Imphal and other extortion activities of the outfit.
Another cadre of the same outfit identified as Ningthoujam Tomba (22) was also arrested from his house at Khumchamba Leikai under Churachandpur district headquarters, the police officer added.
One more motorcycle alleged used by the cadres in carrying out their activities was also recovered from his house, the SP said.
Following the arrest of the four cadres, the security forces also launched a series of operations including at floating huts in the Loktak Lake to hunt down other cadres of the outfit, he said.
The arrested four cadres were later handed over to Moirang police station of Bishnupur district along with the recovered items for further investigation, the SP informed.
