Manipur: Security forces bust extortion racket, arrest 5 members from underground groups

Imphal: Security forces in Manipur captured five cadres of separate underground groups involved in extortion from doctors, hospitals, school van associations, schools, bakery shops, gym centres, and the public, officials stated on Monday.

The arrests were made during anti-insurgency campaigns conducted in the valley districts of Manipur during the past 48 hours.

Six mobile phones with an equal number of SIM cards and incriminating documents were also recovered from them, the reports stated.

Two individuals associated with the outlawed Revolutionary People's Front, the political wing of the proscribed People's Liberation Army (RPF/PLA), were arrested from different locations. Ngangbam Robinson Singh alias Booster (28) of Kangla Sangomsang Mayai Leikai, Imphal East district, was nabbed from Kangla Siphai under Lamlai-PS, Imphal East district.

A mobile phone was seized from him. Waikhom Oken Meitei (43) of Ingourok Mamang Leikai, Thoubal district, was nabbed from his locality under Nongpok Sekmai-PS, Thoubal district.

Two activists of the outlawed Kanglei Communist Party, named Maibam Brojen Meitei (51) and Kiyam Hemanta Singh alias Nanao (36), were also nabbed from their hideouts located in the districts of Thoubal and Bishnupur.

In the final phase of the operation, an active cadre of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (PREPAK PRO), identified as Potsangbam Niranjan Singh, also called Chaobi (29), of Khagempalli Panthak under Imphal-PS, Imphal West district, was apprehended at his residence.