The Hindu : National : 3 Manipuri militants held in Bangalore

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3 Manipuri militants held in Bangalore

Ravi Sharma

BANGALORE: Three Manipuri extremists of The People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak have been arrested here in an operation by the Military Intelligence (MI) with the assistance of the City Crime Branch (CCB).

Police sources said a number of SIM cards and incriminating documents were recovered from the “hardcore” extremists, in their late 20s, who had been put up in a rented, two-storey accommodation at Kaggdaspura, near C.V. Ram Nagar, a stone’s throw from defence establishments.

The arrested are Ibungo Singh alias Chalamba, a self-styled lieutenant; Jiten Singh alias Dada; and Johnny alias Nanao, all belonging to the PREPAK’s general secretary faction. Three others, including a West Asian national, studying in Bangalore were found along with one of the extremists and were being interrogated by the CCB.

‘Operation Kodagu’ was launched a month ago after MI sources in Manipur informed their detachment in Bangalore that suspected extremists had taken shelter in the city. MI personnel tracked the suspects through their cellphones and tailed them at various points in the city. Finally, one of the MI’s sources in Imphal arrived in Bangalore to identify the ultras.

On Thursday evening, Ibungo Singh and Jiten Singh were tracked down to a mall and then followed to their residence at Kaggdaspura. In a swift operation, the MI personnel, along with their counterparts in the CCB, apprehended the two. On interrogation, Ibungo said Johnny was also at large in Bangalore. He, along with three others, was tracked down on the outskirts of the city early on Friday.

Police sources told The Hindu that the arrested would be taken to Manipur shortly.

The main demand of the banned PREPAK, formed under the leadership of R.K. Tulachandra in October 1977, was expulsion of “outsiders” from Manipur.

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