A National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) cadre was arrested late Monday in Imphal East for involvement in a series of IED blasts, including the recent IED attack at Little Flower School. A huge amount of explosive materials were also seized from his possession, official sources said.
The arrested cadre has been identified as one Thounaojam Rishi Luwangcha, 46, son of Th Shelung Singh of Kangla Sangomshang Makha Leikai, Imphal East district.
Superintendent of Police, Imphal West, Ksh Shivkanta Singh told the media on Tuesday that they received a tip-off about the presence of some persons, who were involved in the recent series of bomb blasts in Imphal area, in and around Kangla Sangomshang area.
A team of district commandos led by additional superintendent of police (Ops), Imphal West assisted by officer-in-charge of the unit rushed to the said area and conducted a cordoned and search operation late Monday, the police official said.
During the police activity, one person was seen trying to escape from the backside of a house, he said. However, the police team managed to detain the person and found a jar marked as ‘Mahaan Instant Dairy Creamer’. Later, the man identified himself as Rishi, he added.
He continued that one detonator fitted on a Cordtex wire of approximately 1 feet in length; 58 Plastic Explosive Kirkee (PEK) sticks weighing around 7.358 kg; 3 coils of Cordtex wire with approximately 51 feet in length; 397 detonators in boxes and 2 batteries were found inside the jar.
On body search, one mobile phone handset along with one Airtel SIM card; Rs 9,000 in cash and one Aadhaar card in his name was seized from his possession.
During further search of the house, some mechanical tools used in assembling the explosive substances including one soldering iron rod; one bolt cutter (wire plier); one ratchet wire stripper; one cutter blade; 18 small iron rods and one electric insulating tape were also seized, said the senior police officer.
During preliminary interrogation, Rishi disclosed that he is an active member of NRFM which is terrorist organisation, said Shivkanta.
Rishi also disclosed that he started working for the said organisation in September 2021 under the command of a self-styled chairman Dhaballo of the same organisation who is presently staying in Bangladesh.
Rishi disclosed that he was the person behind the recent series bomb blasts. He said he was behind the blast at one shop at Nagamapal on May 5; at one house located at Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai on May 6 and the recent blast at Little flower school gate on June 5, said SP, Imphal West.
The explosive substances were handed over to him by his commander through one unknown person in the month of January, 2022, he said. He also mentioned that he used to receive Rs 30,000 for each bomb blast.
One Huyndai i20 car black in colour bearing registration number MN05A-5899 and some particular clothes used in commission of the recent bomb blast were also recovered.
Rishi was arrested at the spot and the items were seized.
The arrested persons and the seized materials have been handed over to Lamlai police station for further legal process.
Shivkanta further said that the police team was able to arrest Rishi with the help of footage found from CCTV cameras installed at streets and houses. He appealed to the public to install powerful CCTV cameras as it is one of the safest self-security weapons.
It is also ascertained that Rishi was arrested earlier in connection with a vehicle theft case while another arrest warrant was also issued against Rishi by City police station on December 29, 2020 in connection with vehicle theft case, he added.
