AR, Commandos flex muscle over custody of UTLA leader
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, July 16 2013:
Tension was running high at Jiribam police station bordering Assam when the Assam Rifles and the Manipur police commandos confronted each other physically.
However, not a single shot was fired.
It all began when the 22 Assam Rifles led by one Major Ajay Kante demanded to hand over a self-styled General Secretary of United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) identified as Seineo Guite aslias James Kuki, (29) s/o Lamthang of New Lamka, Churachandpur, who is being detained at Jiribam police station.
Reports said that on July 10, a demand letter of Rs 10 lakh along with a hand grenade and a telephone number scribbled over it was found planted at an oil pump in Jiribam.
The demand letter was in the name of KRA(U).
On July 15, the police commandos dialed the telephone number left by the extortionist and asked him to come and collect the money at a place called Irabot Statue in Jiribam.
The police commandos disguise themselves as owner of the petrol pump.
Shortly, a numberless Maruti Gypsy led by Seineo Guite came and collected the money from the police commandos who were in civvies.
However, it is not clear with whom the UTLA leader came along.
Minutes after handing over the money, the police commandos nabbed Seineo Guite and took him to the Jiribam police station, sources said.
Today, personnel of 22 Assam Rifles led by one Major Ajay Kante came to the Jiribam police station and surrounded it and demanded Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) O Menjor of Jiribam Police Station to hand over the arrested UTLA leader Guite as the militant outfit would be signing Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the government on July 17 .
However, the police officer refused.
In the process, Assam Rifles Major Ajay roughed up O Menjor.
The escort team of the police officer and other police commandos in turn caught hold of Major Ajay and assaulted him, the sources said.
Due to some unknown reason the Assam Rifles team left the police station soon.
It is said that not a single shot was fired during the confrontation.
UTLA leader Guite is still being detained in the police station, the sources stated.
An FIR has been reportedly filed by the police against the Assam Rifles major for assaulted the police officer.