Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 23, 2010:
A combined force of Imphal East district police commandos, troops of 39 and 17 Assam Rifles arrested five men involved in gunrunning during a search operation in and around Lamlong bazar areas early morning today.
The arrested gunrunners have been identified as Thangjam Bijoy (40), son of Th Ibopishak of Khurai Puthiba Leikai, Ngangbam Premchand (37), son of (L) Ng Shyamkeshore of Lamlong Ukhrul road, Takhelchangbam Robichandra Sharma (32), son of T Tomba Sharma of Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai, Soyam Lelen @ Dinesh (40), son of (L) S.Sakher of Khurai Thongam Leikai and Nongthombam Boy (30), son (L) N Jasobanta of Khurai Puthiba Leikai.
One M-16 rifle with a magazine containing 10 live rounds, three 9mm pistols with three magazines along with 9 live rounds were recovered from the possession of Premchand and Bijoy.
Addressing a press meet, DySP (Operations), Imphal East district, Moirangthem Rajen said that following a tip off from a reliable source that some gunrunners who sell arms to the underground Prepak were present in the Lamlong bazar areas in Imphal East district, the combined team of security forces cordoned off the areas and conducted a combing operation.
The five persons were arrested during the operation, DySP Rajen said.
Their revelation led to the recovery of the arms and ammunitions, DySP Rajen said.
In the past too, there had been incidents of attacks by the UGs on the police and security forces.
Therefore, the police have been always on the look out for any insurgent activity in the areas, the police officer said.
Interrogation of the arrested persons revealed that they sold the M-16 rifle at the rate of Rs 1,15,000 and 9mm pistol at the rate of Rs 1,30,000 per piece, DySP Rajen said.
Taking part in the press briefing, Dy SP Kamei Angam said that the arrested five persons were the kind of men frequently seen on the road, and it would be hard to believe that these men would have arms and ammunitions in their possesion.
Their arrest was made possible by a highly reliable tip off, DySP Kamei said.