One KCP (Lallumba) cadre involved in kidnapping nabbed
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 16 2011:
A combined team of Imphal West District Police Commandos and personnel of 30 Assam Rifles apprehended one cadre of KCP (Lallumba) and his younger brother, who were involved in abduction of the proprietor of the Takyel-based Bista mineral water factory and taking a ransom amount of Rs 12 lakh for his release, from Luwangshangbam area at around 2.30 pm today.
Significantly, KCP (Lallumba) is a UG group whose entire cadres have laid down arms and surrendered to the government en masse sometime earlier with the help of Assam Rifles.
The arrested cadre has been identified as Haobijam Sobha alias Somen (39) s/o late H Ibochouba and the arrested younger brother as Haobijam Oken (30) of Keibul Lamjao Chingmei Mayai Leikai.
Sobha is said to be a Second Lieutenant in KCP (Lallumba) while Oken had worked in Bista mineral water factory for sometimes.
Talking to mediapersons in connection with the arrest of two brothers in the evening today, Additional SP (Operation) of Imphal West District Police Dr AK Jhalajit informed that proprietor of Bista mineral water RK Birendra of Thangmeiband Lourungpurul Hanjaba Leikai had been abducted over a ransom demand of Rs 20 lakh from his office chamber at Takyel at around 7 pm on November 11 .
Police received intelligence report about the abduction of RK Birendra on ransom demand.
But his family members did not lodge any complaint with the police.
Instead, they negotiated with the abductors.
Consequently, the police could not take up timely action to arrest the abductors.
The co-operation of the family members is essential in such cases.
But none came forward, the ASP said.
The police officer further informed that after RK Birendra was released, the police took its own initiative to identity and arrest the abductors.
Following a special tip off, the combined force arrested two persons during a search operation conducted in Luwangshangbam area in the afternoon today.
During the course of interrogation, it came to light that the two arrested persons, who turned out to be brothers, were involved in the abduction of RK Birendra.
They also disclosed that after being abducted, RK Birendra was taken till Luwangshangbam Matai village in his own Hyundai car and the car was later abandoned near the main gate of RIMS.
Subsequently, the abductors placed a ransom demand of Rs 20 lakhs for securing the release of RK Birendra and directed the family members to bring the amount at Keibul Lamjao Chingmei under Bishnupur district.
After negotiation, the ransom amount was agreed at Rs 12 lakhs and same had been given by the family members on November 12.The following day, RK Birendra was released at Luwangshangbam Matai village.
ASP Jhalajit said that Oken, the younger brother of the arrested KCP (Lallumba) cadre, had worked in the Bista mineral water factory for sometimes.
He knew not only the details of the factory but also came frequently to collect mineral water there.
He connived with his elder brother and worked out all the strategies for abducting RK Birendra.
In all four of them were involved in the abduction and each of them shared Rs 3.5 lakh each from the ransom amount of Rs 12 lakhs given by the family members.
The two brothers brought the money from Keibul Lamjao to Luwangshangbam today and they were coming out after handing over the share of the two other accomplices in Luwangshangbam, when the combined force arrested them, the police officer conveyed, adding that one 9 mm pistol, one magazine loaded with one live round and an I-card of surrendering to the government issued by CID Special Branch were recovered from their possession at the time of the arrest.
Identifying the other two accomplices as Tomba and Rakesh of Bishnupur district, the ASP disclosed that efforts are to arrest them.