Weapons recovered by security forces in Manipur.
Credit: Manipur Police
Guwahati: Security forces in conflict-torn Manipur on Wednesday arrested a cadre of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), a valley-based insurgent group, who was allegedly the "prime accused" in the ambush on a team of Assam Rifles personnel on September 19 in which three jawans died.
The Manipur police said the cadre, identified as Khundongbam Ojit Singh alias Keibol, was arrested at Kameng in Imphal West district based on specific information.
"During interrogation, he revealed that he was directly involved in the ambush at Sabal Leikai at Nambol in Bishnupur district on 33 Assam Rifles. After firing at the Assam Rifles personnel, he, along with other persons, fled towards the Loktak Lake and hid the arms and ammunition at a secret location," the Manipur police said in a statement.
Three Assam Rifles jawans died and five were injured in the attack on NH-2 around 5.30 pm on September 19. The Assam Rifles team was on the way from Imphal to Bishnupur. Both Imphal and Bishnupur are Meitei-dominated. The highway connects the valley with Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Mizoram.
The attack came amid talks with both Meitei and the Kuki communities to restore peace in Manipur.
The security forces launched combing operations in search of those involved in the attack, while people in both the valley and Kuki-dominated districts took to the streets to condemn the attack carried out amid efforts to end the Meitei-Kuki conflict.
Manipur has remained under the President's Rule since February.
The Manipur police said during a search, an A4 rifle with four magazines, one HK rifle with two magazines, two AK series rifles with five magazines, one INSAS with three magazines, three lathode shells, among others, were recovered.
"Raids are underway in the area in search of others who were also involved in the attack," the police statement said.