VDF men held for smuggling goods inside Sajiwa
Two more in police custody for sending UG e-mails to media houses and bomb attack at AMWJU President
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 01 2012: Despite stepping up security measures inside Sajiwa Jail following reports of jailed UG leaders operating from inside the jail through mobile phones, Jail staff today nabbed two Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel, who were smuggling in Khaini and cigarettes for jail inmates.

The two arrested VDF personnel have been identified as Oinam Surchandra (27) son of Oinam Ibungo of Oinam Mamang Leikai and Elangbam Chittaranjan (27) son of Elangbam Birjit of Tronglaobi.

The VDF number of Surchandra is said to be 832 while that of Chittaranjan is 800.Both of them have been handed over to Heingang Police Station by the jail staff.

Talking to reporters in connection with the arrest, Jail SP IK Muivah said that checking inside the jail has been increased double fold following inspection of Home Minister Gaikhangam and his instruction to step up security measures in the jail.

Even the Home Minister did not bring his mobile phone inside the jail during his visit.

Jail staffs have been regularly checking for mobile phones at the time of entering anyone inside the jail while outer boundary walls are secured by IRB, Commandos and other security forces.

Police and Sajiwa jail staffs parading the two VDF men held for smuggling in goods

In spite of that, the two VDF personnel were reportedly arrested at around 5.55 am today while they when they were trying to smuggle in two packets of Khaini and two packets of Peacock brand cigarettes.

The substances were found concealed inside their boots.

Parading the two arrested VDF personnel in front of reporters, Jail SP, IK Muivah further said that the problem of inmates operating from inside the jail through mobile phones is not only in Manipur.

Even the widely known and secured Tihar Jail too faced the same problem.

As many as 18 mobile phones were recovered from inside Tihar jail recently.

In the past, some police commandos were also detained for trying to smuggle in Khaini, cigarettes and mobile phones inside the jail.

However, today's arrest was the first after strict instructions had been issued from the side of the state Home Department.

Meanwhile, two other persons, who were allegedly involved in sending e-mails to media persons on behalf of a certain UG groups as well as in the bomb attack at the house of AMWJU President, have been arrested by Singjamei Police.

The two arrested persons namely Thingbaijam Chittaranjan (41) son of Th Manigun of Heirangoithong Maibam Leikai and Leishangthem Ibochouba alias Tachou alias Chaoba (38) son of L Shatpa of Khangabok Part 3 Lamlong Makha Leikai were produced before media today.

According to Police, Chittaranjan was arrested along with a Honda Activa (MN01Q 4596), a hand grenade and two mobile phones.

He admitted throwing the bomb which exploded at the house of AMWJU President some time back using the same Honda Activa.

At his disclosure, Singjamei police also one Ibochouba from his home at around 2.20 pm yesterday along with a laptop, one mobile phone and two SIM cards. During interrogation, Ibochouba disclosed that he used to send e-mails for a certain UG group to media houses in the state.

Police, however, did not disclose the name of the UG group on whose behalf Ibochouba was sending e-mails.

It is said that Ibochouba operates a Printing Press at Khangabok Lamlong Keithel and he used his printing press for typing and sending the e-mails.

Chittaranjan has been remanded to police custody till September 6 while Ibochouba till September 11 for further interrogation.

Disclosing the events that led to the arrest of the two persons, police said that they have been tracing the mobile numbers used for issuing threatening calls to media houses recently and it led to Nando, who is presently lodged in Sajiwa jail for various cases.

During interrogation, police discovered two mobile handsets and two SIM cards from Nando.

The two SIM cards were found hiding inside the latrine pit wrapped in plastic and attached to a fine thread.

Nando bought the Mobile handsets from one VDF personnel identified as Nanao of Yairipok who was posted in Sajiwa Jail some months back and the SIM cards were brought from an inmate named Bali of PLA, police said.

Acting on the leads provided by Nando during interrogation, police also arrested one Md Akbar Khan alias Ali Khan alias Sher Khan (36) of Yairipok Tulihal but staying at Hatta Golapati on August 18 and recovered one hand grenade from his possession.

Subsequently, interrogation of Nando and Akbar Khan led to the arrest of Chittaranjan and Ibochouba, police added.