IMPHAL, September 27: Less than 24 hours after the Press Council of India Sub-Committee team urged the State Home Minister to look into the safety issues of the journalist in the state, a team of Imphal West police commando led by S Ibomcha Dy SP Imphal West has reportedly arrested a man said to be behind the threat on media houses and newspaper distributers and hawkers about a month ago which had shut down the state media houses for several days.
State Home Minister Gaikhangam identified the man as one Thokchom Priyokumar (30), son of (L) Patho Meitei of Uchiwa Heiyel Hangoon near Lai Umang Mayang Imphal as a technical staff of Infra Tel and a BE degree Holder from the Manipur Institute of technology.
Addressing media persons this evening at his Secretariat, the State Dy CM who also holds the Home portfolio said the man was arrested today around 2:30pm from Kakching Khounou in Thoubal district.
Speaking at the press conference, Gaikhangam further said that the arrest of the individual is a major breakthrough in the case.
He said Priyokumar was arrested after the State police department tapped the phone number from which the threats were made to the media houses.
During the arrest, the mobile phone and SIM cards used by Priyokumar have been recovered, he said. He also said that the police have been trying hard to arrest the person involved since the past many days.
The arrest will lead to the arrest of the remaining others behind the threat, Gaikhangnam assured. He also stated that further investigation is on to find out whether any other persons were involved in the case.
When asked by the media persons regarding which group of militant outfit the arrested individual belongs to, the Minister said that further investigation are going on.
It may be mentioned that the Media persons along with newspaper hawkers had staged sit in protests, protest rally and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and Home Minster regarding the threat to the media house in the last week of August.