Big time fraud fall to police dragnet
Many duped of over Rs 1.8 crore
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 15 2023: One 66-year-old man has been arrested by the police for impersonating as an Internal Security Advisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs, North East Region and duping youths of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of giving jobs in the Central Paramilitary Forces.

The arrested man, wanted in several cases, has been identified as Changambam Manoranjan of Pishumthong Ningom Leirak Machin at present staying at Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai.

While acting as an Internal Security Advisor of the MHA North East Region between 2013 and 2016, on the pretext of giving jobs in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) or Border Security Force (BSF), he collected around Rs 1.80 crore from a number of youths in the State.

Big time fraud fall to police dragnet

Briefing media persons at his office today, Superintendent of Police of Imphal West, Ksh Shivakanta said Manoranjan was arrested from Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai last night by a team of Lamphel police station.

The SP said Manoranjan is wanted in a November 2016 case registered at Lamphel police in connection with cheating and criminal intimidation and has a non-bailable warrant against him issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in June 2017 .

In addition, he is also wanted in an FIR lodged by the Silchar police for cheating and criminal intimidation.

Yesterday, the police had received specific information about his presence at Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai and a team under the command of Inspector P Khogendro OC Lamphel police station rushed to the spot and arrested him.

The police also seized one mobile phone along with two Sim cards from his possession.

SP Ksh Shivakanta said Manoranjan impersonated as an Internal Security Advisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs, NE Region and he was running an office in the name of the Central Paramilitary Force (SSB-BSF) Battalion Sub Appointment Committee at Langol Housing Complex near Meitei Mandap.

Manoranjan lured unemployed youths stating he could give them appointed as General Duty Constable in the SSB or BSF under a special Central scheme in which surrendered UG cadres are given jobs in the police.

Through this fake recruitment scheme done between 2013 and 2016, Manoranjan collected around Rs 1.80 crore.

He took Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh per candidate.

Manoranjan fled Manipur in 2016 and he reportedly settled in Delhi and Mizoram, said the police officer.

Cautioning people, the SP then appealed to the public not to fall prey to such criminals who extort money from the public in the name of providing employment and financial benefits.

Meanwhile, Manoranjan was produced before the Duty Magistrate Imphal West today afternoon and was remanded to 7 days police custody till February 21 for further investigation.

It may be noted here that Manoranjan was arrested by Imphal West commando in November 2007 as an active member of KYKL who was working at that time as a chief advisor of then outfit's operation New Kangleipak, which investigated cases of fake appointments in the Education Department.

He was, at the time, arrested from Kwakeithel Bazar area and the commando personnel had also seized one satellite phone from his possession.

Years later when he was identifying himself as an Internal Security Advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he was shot and injured in his right arm by unknown persons at his residence at Langol Housing Complex Type-III in the night of November 26, 2014 .