IMPHAL, Jan 16: A combined team of security forces have nabbed several cadres of the URF (Lalheiba) including its 2-IC during a cordon and search operation at Taphou Kuki Village on January 13.
According to a report carried earlier, the arrested men included cadres of KNO/KRA as well. However, police today claimed all arrested men were URF (Lalheiba) cadres.
Acting on a reliable information about the presence of s/s chairman Lalheiba Meitei of the URF (Lalheiba faction) along with his cadres in the general area of Taphou Kuki Village, Senapati, a combined team District Police Commando, Imphal West, District Police, Senapati and 25 Assam Rifles conducted cordon and search operation in the said area on January 13, according to a PRO Police statement.
During the search operation, an active cadre of the outfit identified as Thangjamuan alias Kelvin Zou, 23, son of Kaisuanlal Zou of Churchanpur Head Quarter was arrested, it said.
On his disclosure, one Al Rifle loaded with 30 (thirty) live rounds and one bag containing 204 live rounds of A 1 ammunition were located and seized from the house of Senthang Chongloi, 67 son of (L) Dormesh Rai of Lhanghoi Veng, Taphou Kuki village, Senapati District, it said.
The statement also said that on further investigation, another four cadres of the outfit, identified as s/s 2-IC URF (Lalheiba faction), Elangbam Surchandra alias Chand alias Max, 34 son of E Itai Singh of Pukhao Ahallup Makha Leikai, Imphal East, s/s private Thanglaldin alias Shaolin Vaiphei, 19, son of Zamkhai Vaiphei of Churchandpur Headquarter, Satneo Singron, 20, son of Yangpa Singron of Churachandpur Tollen and Lamjahao Chongloi, 21, son of Latejang Chongloi of Taphao Kuki village were arrested on the same day from the house of Lamjahao Chongloi.
From the disclosure of s/s 2-IC, Elangbam Surchandra alias Chand alias Max, one AK 56 Rifles loaded with 30 rounds, one polythene bag containing 133 (one hundred and thirty three) live rounds of AK 56 and one M 16 Rifle with one magazine containing 14 live rounds were recovered and seized from the courtyard of Janglal Chongloi (35) s/o Hentao Chongloi of Lhanghoi Veng Taphou Kuki village, it said.
A case has been registered at Sekmai Police Station and investigation is going on, the statement concluded.