A combined team of Kangpokpi police and Jwalamukhi Battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 22 Sector, IGAR (E) apprehended top leaders of a non-SoO Kuki militant outfit, the United Tribal People's Front (UTPF) during an operation at the general area of Laipham Khunou in Imphal East on Tuesday.
According to a police source, the operation was carried out following credible inputs regarding the presence of accused persons namely Paominthang Lhouvum ,45, son of Seikhogin Lhouvum of Molkon village, Saikul, and his associates involved in FIR No 25(12)2021 GSPM-PS u/s 364-A/400 IPC & 25(1-C) A Act.
Acting on the tip-off, the combined team of Kangpokpi police and the Jwalamukhi battalion of 22 AR Motbung Post led by officer-in-charge of Gamnom Saparmeina Police Station inspector JK Haokip along with two teams of the police station carried out the operation under the supervision of SP Kangpokpi Amrita Sinha and arrested the UTPF chief and his associates at around 2 pm on Tuesday.
The UTPF top leaders were arrested along with one 9mm pistol with four live ammunition and one gold-colored Wagon R.
The weapon and ammunition were recovered and seized at the instance of Mangkholun Lhouzem at Molthang village near the football ground which was hidden underground.
The apprehended persons are identified as self-styled chairman of UTPF Paominthang Lhouvum, self-styled secretary of the outfit Mangkholun Lhouzem and one Jampithang Sitlhou.
They were handed over to Gamnom Saparmeina Police Station for further investigations.
