Explosives seized

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 13: A combined team of Bishnupur district commandos and 29 Assam Rifles averted a major explosion on Tiddim road by arresting a cadre of the UNLF with a huge cache of explosive, arms and ammunition from Ngakchoupokpi, Bishnupur district today.
The arrested person has been identified as Khundongbam Lanjingba Singh (40) of Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, Imphal East district. He has revealed that his paternal uncle is Pambei Khudongbam, chairman of the UNLF, police said in a statement.
The security personnel recovered one 0.32 mm pistol, one, 0.32 mm pistol magazine, one M20 pistol magazine, 8 live rounds of 0.32 mm, one IED gelatin pack weighing 415 grams, 2 detonators, one Exide battery (12V)  power source, one electronic safety fuse, one cordless remote control initiator, one Duracell (9V) battery and one black Hyundai Tucson vehicle having no registration number.
Acting on a reliable input that some cadres of the banned UNLF organization are planning to plant explosive devices and target security forces in Bishnupur district ahead of Republic Day, Bishnupur district commandos and a column of 29 Assam Rifles had conducted search operation at Ngakchoupokpi area at around 4.30 pm, said the police.
During the cordon and search operation, the security personnel came across two persons on the Inter-Village Road near Khwairakpam Yangoi Ningthou Temple in a suspected manner. As a team approached them, both of them ran away. The security personnel chased and apprehended Khundongbam Lanjingba Singh while the other managed to escape, added the police.
He was found carrying a bag and on examination, the  security personnel found the explosives and arms and ammunition.
On questioning, he has revealed that he is working for the UNLF and on the instructions of one S/S Major Nongdon of the UNLF, he collected the mentioned items from one Bobo from Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi to deliver it to an unknown person at Khwairakpam.
They were planning to plant the explosive device along Tiddim road before the Republic Day.
The arrested person along with the seized items have been handed over to Bishnupur Police Station and a case has been registered. Massive search is being carried out to arrest the other escapee, said the police.
The operation today was led by Additional SP (Ops) O Wangkhomba and assisted by CDO OC Y Shaktishen.