Long arm of the law catches up with rogue police commando ASI held, Army men yet to be nailed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 15 2012: Swiftly acting on the report about the assault of three shoppers by a combined team of security forces, Imphal West Police has arrested an ASI of Bishnupur district police commandos in connection with the case.

The incident reportedly took place on December 11 .

The three shoppers were also allegedly robbed of Rs 90,000 .

However action is yet to be taken up against the Army men, who are reportedly attached to the 6/8 Gorkha Regiment, based at Ningthoukhong.

When The Sangai Express contacted the SSP of Bishnupur police today evening, the officer said that departmental action has been taken up against the said official.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a source said that action against the Army personnel, all from the 6/8 Gorkha Regiment, stationed at Ningthoukhong cannot be taken up at the moment, as the officers and personnel involved in the incident met with an accident the same night.

Some of them were critically injured in the accident and one has been air lifted to Kolkata for further treatment while the others have been admitted to the military hospital at Leimakhong.

The bruises inflicted on the victims

The SP of Bishnupur police however said that it is yet to be confirmed whether the personnel injured in the accident were involved in the assault of the three persons or not.

He however confirmed that the road accident did occur and added that among the injured were a Major and a Captain.

The conditions of the two officers are stated to be critical and they have been air lifted to Kolkata for further treatment, added the SP.

According to a police statement, ASI Onkhomang Haokip of Bishnupur district police, who is found to be involved in the crime, has been arrested and a Nokia mobile phone which was taken from the victims was recovered from his possession.

Lalboi Mate of Khudengthabi village, Thanglal Baite of Moreh Ward No 9 and Haopu Baite of Moreh Ward No 9 were picked up by unidentified persons numbering around 10 and suspected to be a combined team of Army and Manipur Police commandos from Paona Bazar on December 11 .

The three persons were allegedly tortured in custody and a sum of Rs 90,000 was extorted from them while a mobile handset was seized from them by the suspected security personnel before releasing them on December 12 at Sangaiprou.

Based on the news report that appeared in the December 14 editions of the State newspapers and police information, a case was registered at City Police Station and the case was investigated into, said a statement issued by SP of Imphal West.

During the course of the investigation, it has been revealed that two persons�Thanglal Baite and Haopu Baite were picked up by a unit of army based at Ningthoukhong from Mantripukhri area on December 11 and taken them to their camp.

During the operation, an ASI of Bishnupur District Police Commandos, identified as Onkhomang Haokip accompanied the army team to pick up Lalboi Mate from Jehovah Lodge at Paona Bazar without informing his senior officers and OC of City PS, the police statement said.

Before accompanying ASI Onkhomang Haokip, the army team contacted SI Md Imtiaz of CDO/IE through mobile (No 7308259804) to join the operation.

However, the SI turned down the request.

Onkhomang Haokip has been arrested in the case and one Nokia mobile phone which was taken from the victims was recovered from his possession, the statement informed.

It added that investigation of the case is on.