IMPHAL, Feb 4: Arms smuggling from Myanmar to Manipur continues and proliferation comes in different forms and packages. Police apprehended a CorCom activist with explosives fitted in pest repellant cans which are a Myanmar export item.
Briefing mediapersons at Imphal East police station in the regard,additional SP Dr Akoijam Jhalajit said that on receipt of specific intelligence reports, a combined team of Imphal west, east and 9AR conducted mobile frisking and checking at Palace Gate starting from 1 pm today. During the time, a youth was found moving in a suspicious manner at the southern side of palace gate traffic point. The person was held and detained for immediate verification .The individual verified himself as Gurumayum Khugamani Sharma alias Inao alias Nanao alias Bamol,23, s/o G Ibomcha Sharma of Wangkhei Pukhrambam Leirak. He later confessed being an overground worker of RPF/PLA.
Further questioning led Khugamani to divulge that bombs were kept at his residence at Wangkhei, the police immediately went and confiscated four IED’s which were masterfully fitted in pest repellant cans .Each weighs about a kilogram. Wires were fitted at the nozzle of the cans and connected to the explosives inside the can. Two detonators,transmitters and one remote control device were also seized.
Jhalajit added that the apprehended person is not a trained member of the outfit but recruited as an overground worker. “He has no formal explosive training, yet has been assigned to detonate the IEDs by following telephonic directions, many innocent youths are misused by the insurgents in this manner”, he said.
The apprehended further revealed that the explosives were handed over to him at Moreh by one Yumnam Chourjit Singh alias Sunil Kumar alias Robertson alias Anoiba alias Samsang, 32, s/o Dhananjoy Singh of Khurai Puthiba Leikai, who is a s/s 2nd lieutenant of PLA on January 14 with specific instructions to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations as well as the assembly elections. The IEDs were supposed to be planted at Lamlong bridge,Minuthong bridge and Thong Nambonbi. The apprehended was earlier a member of Manipuri Students Federation and is a member of Royal Riders,Manipur.