Manipur: Extortionist arrested, arms and explosives seized

Imphal: A joint team of central and state security forces, in a series of anti-insurgency operations, arrested an extortionist and recovered arms, ammunition and explosive items during the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

Huiningshungbam George Bush Meitei, also known as Ningthem (20), who is reportedly associated with the proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak–Progressive (Prepak-Pro), was arrested in the first phase of the operation conducted at Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai in Imphal West district. He is a resident of Lamphel Grace Colony under Lamphel Police Station in the same district.

Based on his interrogation, the joint team carried out a second operation at Langol Reserve Forest Hill near the roadside leading to Lamdeng Water Supply under Lamsang Police Station in Imphal West district. During the operation, the team recovered the following:

i. one SLR along with two magazines;
ii. two single-barrel guns;
iii. three pistols along with three magazines;
iv. 20 rounds of 7.62 mm SLR ammunition;
v. one No. 36 HE grenade;
vi. eight tube launchings;
vii. one KENWOOD hand-held set.

In the final phase of the operation on Monday, the security team recovered an unidentified metal object, suspected to be a locally made weapon (pumpi), from the Monghlam area under Thoubal Dam Police Station in Imphal East district.