Imphal: In a major breakthrough in law and order, security forces on Wednesday arrested the prime accused involved in the recent ambush on security personnel at Sabal Leikai, Nambol, which killed two jawans of the Assam Rifles and injured five others, officials said.
According to a police report, acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of armed militants in the Kameng area of Imphal West district, a joint team comprising Imphal West Police, Bishnupur Police, 33 Assam Rifles, and other security forces launched a special operation around 1 am.
During the operation, one person identified as Khundongbam Ojit Singh alias Keilal (47), son of late Kh. Mani Singh of Awang Leikinthabi Awang Leikai, Imphal West, was apprehended.
“At the spot examination, he admitted that he is a bailed-out member of the PLA. He further stated that he continues to work for the PLA,” the police said.
During interrogation, Singh revealed that he had been arrested earlier on April 22, 2007. Officials further stated that his examination confirmed his direct involvement in the September 19 ambush at Sabal Leikai, Nambol, around 5:30 pm, which targeted personnel of the 33 Assam Rifles.
After opening fire on the Assam Rifles personnel, Singh and his associates fled towards the Loktak Lake side, where they hid their arms and ammunition at a secret location, the report added.
Based on his disclosure, security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition used in the ambush. The recoveries include one A4 rifle with four magazines, one HK rifle with two magazines, two AK rifles with five magazines, one INSAS rifle with three magazines, and three lathode shells. In addition, 170 rounds of AK ammunition, 216 rounds of M-16 ammunition, 67 rounds of INSAS ammunition, one mobile handset, a wallet, and an Aadhaar card were also seized.
Examination of the arrested person is ongoing, and police said certain leads have been established. Raids are being carried out to apprehend other suspects involved in the Nambol ambush, they added.
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