3 Kuki militants handed over to NIA

Imphal: Three arrested Kuki militants were handed over to National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday.

Joint security forces of Manipur Police and CRPF launched an operation in L. Hengjol village, New Keithelmanbi PS, Kangpokpi district at around 3:30 am on the basis of an intelligence shared by NIA. There was an exchange of firing between the SF and armed militants, Manipur police said.

The three persons who are cadres of an underground outfit, namely Thangjoel Haokip alias Thangboi, Jangjoulen Khongsai alias Goulen and Jangminlun Singson alias Franky were apprehended. The arrested persons are suspected to be involved in various criminal incidents of the recent past, it added.

Two AK rifles, one MA1 MK-3 rifle, one SBBL and 1,382 rounds of assorted ammunitions were recovered in the operation. The arrested persons and seized arms and ammunitions have been handed over to NIA for necessary legal action, police said.

“Security forces exercised maximum restraint in the conduct of the operation and acted in self-defence when they were fired upon by the armed militants and obstructed by the civilians.”

Various unfounded allegations and inciting messages regarding the conduct of the operation are doing rounds in social media. It is hereby appealed to stop propagation of such fake messages. Postings of such baseless allegation upon the security forces and inciting the public wrongly in social media will face legal action, Manipur Police said.