IMPHAL, September 13: Three days after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the government and two days after its `Commander in chief` was involved in an assault of a VDF personnal, a s/s `Chief of Army` designate, Laishram Gunamani was arrested yesterday while coming to collect extortion money.
The militant cadre, who had represented the outfit in signing the peace accord, was arrested by a combined team of Imphal East commando, Thoubal commando and a column of 30 Assam Rifles from Kongba Heikruthong around 7pm.
The antics of the KCP (Nongdren Khomba) cadres have come to light amidst a stern warning from the Chief Minister in his speech during the very homecoming ceremony that the outfit was part of, against breaking any ground rules.
Laishram Gunamani was arrested along with one 9mm pistol, a magazine and three live rounds.
The seized arms were produced before media persons at the office chamber of Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Imphal East, M Rajen.
A press release issued by the Imphal East police said that yesterday at around 6:30 pm on getting specific information, a combined team of the Imphal East commandos, Thoubal district commandos and a column of 40th Assam Rifles, Canchipur under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police (operations) Imphal east M Rajen launched a counter insurgency operation in and around the Kongba area.
During the counter insurgency operation, the s/s `Chief of Army` of the KCP (Nongdren Khomba) group, Laishram Gunamani alias Guru alias Priyokumar (32), son of L Rajen of Kongba Laishram Leikai was arrested by the combined team as he was collecting the extortion money served to one DFO at Kongba.
He later revealed that he kept a 9mm pistol with three live rounds and a magazine buried at his residence, following which the weapon was recovered, it said.
The press release further mentioned that on verification of the arrested person, it has come to light that he joined the militant group in the year 2009 and was involved in the killing of one Oinam Babu of Wangkhei, a Reliance mobile tower operator in the year 2010 along with one of his friend Jiten from Langol, under the direction of one Lakpa of PREPAK, for not complying with the monetary demand served by PREPAK.
The press release also mentioned that before joining the KCP faction, he had first joined the KYKL in the year 1999 through one Chalamba of Kongba and after that he Joined PREPAK in the year 2007 and then joined KCP (Nongdren Khomba). The release said that the cadre was still in touch with cadres of both KYKL and PREPAK.
It may be mentioned that on 9 September, L Gunamani along with Ningthoujam Nongdren Khomba, Commander in chief of KCP (Nongdren Khomba) represented the outfit in signing the peace agreement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state government in the presence of Chief Minister O Ibobi, Home Minister Gaikhangam, DGP MK Das.
The KCP Nongdren Khomba group had signed the `Peace Agreement` in the `Home coming` ceremony by laying down 26 weapons by 44 cadres.