Nambol ambush of September 19: Police make formal arrest of main accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2025: Nambol police have made formal arrest of the alleged main accused of Nambol Sabal Leikai ambush after taking due permission from the Special Court NIA, Imphal West today afternoon.

The main accused Khundongbam Ojit alias Keilal (47) s/o (L) Mani of Awang Leikinthabi Awang Leikai, presently staying at Langol Games Village, Zone 1 was produced before the Court by a team of Lamsang police station after the completion of police custody period along with a prayer for judicial remand.

A Special PP submitted that on the intervening night of September 23 and September 24, the main accused was arrested during a search operation carried out by Imphal West district police and 33 Assam Rifles at Kameng Makha Leikai as he tried to flee from the spot toward the paddy fields.

During preliminary interrogation, the accused disclosed that he is an active cadre of RPF/PLA and was involved in the ambush upon the Assam Rifles personnel at Nambol Sabal Leikai on September 19 night at around 5.30 pm.

From his disclosure, arms and ammunition suspected to have been used in the ambush were recovered from Mutum Yangbi near Ishok which were kept concealed inside two sacks at a marshy spot.

Ojit alias Keilal also disclosed that they were given instruction from higher authority to lay an ambush on Assam Rifles or Army excluding BSF and CRPF personnel ahead of the 47th raising day of the outfit.

The accused also stated that on September 19, they took position near Sabal Leikai community hall when the 407 truck of Assam Rifles approached them from Imphal side.

They started firing upon the truck and continued till the truck passed them and the accused fired a whole magazine from his AK 47 assault rifle.

They fled from the spot in a Maruti van with their arms and proceeded toward Ishok and wrapped their weapons in a gunny bag and threw it in the nearby pond, and left Ishok, the Special PP said.

The Special PP then prayed the Court to remand the accused in judicial custody.

The Court, after hearing the submission of the Special PP and on perusal of the case record, remanded the accused in judicial custody till October 17 .

In the meantime, a team of Nambol police station filed an application to make formal arrest of Ojit alias Keilal in connection with an FIR registered at Nambol police station related to Nambol Sabal Leikai ambush on September 19.The Special PP submitted that on September 19 at around 6 pm.

Riflemen Rohit Kumar of 33 Assam Rifles lodged a report before Nambol police station stating that when he along with 10 other personnel of 33 Assam Rifles were proceeding from TOB Patsoi in a 407 truck and on reaching Nambol Sabal Leikai crossing towards Naorem, some unknown arm miscreants laid an ambush and started firing numerous rounds using different sophisticated weapons.

In the attack, two personnel succumbed to bullet injuries on the spot and five others sustained injuries.

Accordingly, a regular FIR was registered for investigation and during the course of investigation, a wireless message was received from Lamsang police station that Ojit alias Keilal has been arrested on September 24 and his involvement in the ambush at Nambol Sabal Leikai has been confirmed.

The Special PP said that co-accused Thongram Sadananda alias Ngachik alias Purakpa who was arrested by Thoubal Police on September 22 under Unlawful Prevention Act has also been formally arrested from Thoubal Court by Nambol police in connection with the present case and the co-ac-cused has disclosed his own involvement as well as that of Khundongbam Ojit and four other individuals in the commission of the ambush.

The Special PP then prayed the Court to grant permission for formal arrest of Khundongbam Ojit for proper investigation of the case.

The Court, after hearing the submission of the Special PP and on perusal of the formal arrest application, allowed Nambol police to make formal arrest of Ojit and directed Nambol police to produce the accused before the concerned Court of Bishnupur district within 24 hours.

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