Imphal, June 15 2009: Acting on the revelations made by Seram Ongbi Ashalata Devi, arrested in connection with the kidnap and subsequent brutal murder of Yengkhom Krishnadas after taking a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from his family, combined police teams of Imphal East and Imphal West conducted a lightning search operation in the Sajiwa Central Jail early this morning.

Regarding the search operation conducted at the Sajiwa Central Jail, a police officer who requested anonymity told the Hueiyen Lanpao that Ashalata had disclosed to police that Thokchom Nando from Khangabok, an important figure of KCP, who is at present being imprisoned in the Sajiwa Central Jail, told her through mobile phone to collect the ransom amount of Rs 25 lakh and handed over the amount to two persons as Nando had ordered.

Following Ashalata's disclosures, it was necessary for the police to seize the mobile phone and sim cards being used by Nando, who has been involved in various cases.

Therefore, the combined team of police of police launched a sudden and surprise search operation in the jail at about 3.30 am today.

The operation was planned in top secrecy, and did not inform even the jail staffs.

When the police commandos reached the campus of the jail, the staff were called out from their quarters and made them open the gate.

As soon as the inner most gate was opened, the commandos rushed in towards the room of Nando.

One police commando played another inmate and asked Nando to open the door of his ward.

Immediately after opening the door, Nando rushed to his bed and took two sim cards from under the pillow and put them in his mouth, and he bit them and destroyed them.

Some commandos immediately rushed in and overpowered Nando before he could destroy the sim card which was inside his mobile phone.

Thus police recovered the sim card intact.

The police officer said, it is believed that Nando had used that very sim card in the whole planning of kidnapping and subsequent killing of Krishnadas.

It may be recalled here that Nando had become a well known name to the people of Manipur after he was arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 12 year-old Lungnila Elizabeth on November 12, 2003.The CBI has also framed charge sheet against him and trial is going on.

However, since he has not been remanded in police custody and interrogated him, it is not yet verified whether he is involved in the kidnap and killing of Krishnadas despite taking Rs 25 lakh as ransom from his family.

Police have not yet made any official claim as to Nando's involvement in the crime.

The police officer further said that the case against Nando having possibly been involved in the killing of Krishnadas is very strong.

Therefore it is very much necessary that he be taken out of the judicial custory and be remanded in police custody for interrogations.

However, since it is going to take at least one or two days in filing appeal to the court for warrant of his production and getting permission from the Home Department, it can not be said as of now when exactly he would be taken out of the jail and subject him to vigorous grilling, the police officer said and added that the investigation is fast progressing.