IMPHAL, May 23: The Superintendent of Police Thoubal district has in a press release said that a combined team of Cdo Thoubal, 15th Assam Rifles and the 116th Bn BSF under the supervision of the SDPO Yairipok conducted a search operation at Inganglok Tera Makhong, Heirok Part III and arrested two local volunteers cum bomb experts of the banned outfit RPF/PLA on May 22 at about 8.55 pm.
It identified the two as Nongmaithem Naocha Singh (27), son of (L) N Kulla Singh of lnganglok Tera Makhong, Heirok part-III and Laishram Kiran Meitei (22), son of L Rame Meitei of Heirok part-II Chingol.
Further according to the statement, “On questioning, Nongmaithem Naocha disclosed that he joined the outlawed organization in last part of April 2013 along with his associate namely Laishram Kiran Meitei, son of L Rame Meitei of Heirok part-II Chingol through one Sangcha alias Oja of PLA from Yairipok Wangkhem”.
After joining the PLA, he along with his associate went to Tamu in Myanmar and received training in lED and explosives in the early part of May 2013, it continued.
He further revealed that he kept hiding some arms and explosive items and one motorcycle bike in the backyard of his house and the motorcycle bike was used for transportation of the IEDs which was planted at Wangjing Purana Heitupokpi area along the IVR with an objective to attack the personnel of 116 Bn. BSF, it said.
Further he revealed that the lED explosion/attack which took place on May 15 at about 5:00 pm at Wangjing Purana Heitupokpi against the regular foot patrol party of 116 Bn BSF was carried out by him in association with Laishram Kiran Meitei and Laishram Amuchou Singh (41), son of L Maniram Singh of Heirok part-Il Devimandop Leikai under the command of Sangcha alias OJ, a hardcore bomb expert of RPF/PLA, the statement added.
Further, Nongmaithem Naocha Singh disclosed that one lED weighing about 7 Kgs fitted with 1 (one) RPG mortar shell was also planted by him and his associates at Wangjing Purana Heitupokpi area along the IVR near the site of blast which occurred on May 15 at 5.00 pm, it said.
Following the disclosure, certain items were also recovered during the operation. The items include one 9mm pistol with 3 (three) live rounds loaded in the magazine, four cakes of explosive materials suspected to be PEK, one Remote Control Device marked TR -to one Sanyo Alkaline Battery of 6LF22/9V, two module booster concealed with Red & black tape, four electronic detonator marked as K6121128A00435, K6121128100464, K6121128A00499 & K6121128A00451, one white transparent plastic jar and a motorcycle bike bearing registration no MN04-0036.
The statement also said that the combined team rushed to Wangjing Purana Heitupokpi area along the IVR where the arrested persons planted one lED.
“One lED which was more than one square feet in dimension and one RPG Shell fitted together were found planted as indicated by the two arrested persons at about 8.55 pm”, the statement.