Newmai News Network Imphal | May 11 Hours after proscribed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) claimed responsibility for the May 9 IED blast that claimed two BSF jawans in Imphal, the Manipur police maintained that they have arrested five persons in connection with the incident. One of the five arrested is a hardcore PREPAK cadre. This information was disclosed to the media today by LM Khaute, Director General of Police, Manipur. Two BSF personnel were killed and injured three civilians in the IED blast at Koirengei near 49 BSF Headquarters in Imphal on May 9 afternoon. A day after, the proscribed PREPAK had claimed responsibility for the blast while saying that the outfit would continue to carry out such “armed campaign to restore the lost sovereignty of Kangleipak (Manipur) and bring freedom and equality to the nation”. Meanwhile, divulging on the sequence of events that led to the arrest of the PREPAK cadre and other accomplices of the IED blast, the Manipur police chief told the media persons that following the IED blast a Koirengei near the Gate of 49 BSF Headquarters, a case was registered at Heingang police station and later massive search operations were launched relentlessly at suspected areas of Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts in association with police teams of Imphal West and Thoubal districts. Intelligence was beefed up and force deployed to established leads, the DGP further said. Acording to Khaute, a reliable information was received from sources that a person namely Thoudam Suresh alias Khamba @ Inunganba @ Nganthoi Singh 27, of Leishangthem Thoudam Mamang Leikai was suspected to be involved in the case Immediately intimation was given to SP of Thoubal by sending a team requesting him to affect his arrest with a police team of Thoubal district, the Police Chief added. The man in question was arrested from his house at 9 am on May 10 and two mobile handsets along with two Sim cards and a voter ID card in his name were seized from his possession, Khaute stated. On examination of the arrested person, he disclosed that he was member of the outlawed PREPAK organization working under one Erei of PREPAK, claimed the Police Chief. As directed by Erei on May 8 at about 2 pm he went to Thoubal College road and collected one IED packed in a black polythene from two unknown persons and came to Singjamei by boarding a Tata Magic passenger van. There he met one Aboy, who came on his blue Activa, who was sent by Erei and they two came to Mantripukhri and stayed at the house of Tharongoubi, the officer further stated. The DGP then narrated as per the information given to the police by the arrested man that, on May 9, the PREPAK cadres went towards Khonghampat and came back to Koirengei and there a woman who was known by one Ichan was sent by Erei. She along with Aboy went ahead while he reminded at CMC Junction and they planted the IED at Koirengei near the BSF gate. After that the woman went towards Khongampat and he along with Aboy came towards Mantripukhri while Aboy triggered the IED using a remote control, LM Khaute added. During further course of investigation as per disclosure of the PREPAK cadre, the three associates who facilitated him and Aboy to carry out the task were also arrested with the assistance of Imphal West police teams on May 10. The other arrested persons are Thokchom Ranjit Singh, 58 son of late Th Yaima of Langol Type-2, Thokchom ( O ) Tharongoubi Leima 55, wife of Th Ranjit Singh of Langol Type-2 and Irom ( O ) Kumudini Devi 60, wife of late I Iboyaima of Shamungshang Lairembi Leirak. On May 10, Thoudam Aboy @ Naocha @ Wathouba @ Ekheng Meitei 30, son of Th Ibocha of Leishangthem Thoudam Mamang Leikai but presently stayed at Mantripukhri Chumbreithong was also arrested by the police, the DGP added.
