KCP-PWG leader gets 7 yrs RI

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 29: KCP-PWG commander-in-chief Laishram Ranjit Meitei alias Manao alias Apik alias Tamnganba has been sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 24,000 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The NIA Special Court, New Delhi passed an order to this effect on April 27.
Laishram Ranjit’s aide Khumanthem Naobicha Singh alias Jack s/o Kh Mani Singh has also been awarded the same quantum of punishment.
However, the Court sentenced Thoudam Chaothoi Singh alias Chingsang alias Raju s/o Th Manichoubi Singh to five years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 14,000.
Notably, a charge-sheet was filed against them on February 8, 2018 followed by a supplementary charge-sheet on March 22, 2019.
Laishram Ranjit, Khumanthem Naobicha and Thoudam Chaothoi were arrested by a team of Delhi Police’s Special Cell on August 14, 2017 near Tibetan Market, ISBT, Delhi.  
Back on August 14, 2017, the Press Trust of India had reported from New Delhi-Ahead of Independence Day, three alleged members of different factions of Manipur-based outfit, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-PWG), including its commander-in-chief were arrested, the police said on Monday.
KCP (Peoples War Group) was formed last year in January by the members of KCP-Poirei faction, KCP-Tamnganba faction and KCP-Paikhomba faction under commander-in-chief of KCP-Tamnganba faction Laishram Ranjit Meitei (45).
The KCP-PWG had allegedly carried out attacks on oil tankers in April and June after the oil tankers' association refused to give extortion money to it.
The three men, Meitei, finance secretary of KCP (Lamyanba Khuman (LK) faction) Khumanthem Naobicha Singh (36) and a member of KCP-LK Thoidam Chaothoi (30), were arrested on Sunday, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) PS Kushwah.
They were on the run and had come here to identify a base around Delhi to coordinate their anti-National activities. A team of Delhi Police's Special Cell was working on inputs that Meitei was hiding somewhere in Delhi, said the officer.
It was learnt that he had been staying in Kakarbeta area near the West Bengal-Nepal border but had plans to set up a hideout here to carry out the organisation's anti-National activities, he said.
On the basis of a tip-off, Meitei was arrested near Tibetan Market, ISBT, here along with two other members.
During interrogation, Meitei said that he was the commander-in-chief of the organisation and had earlier been arrested by the Manipur Police. He was on the run for five years, he said.
The second accused, Naobicha, had recently come in contact with Meitei. He also had a police record and was earlier associated with other banned organisations of Manipur.
Prior to coming to Delhi, they were operating from their base at Kakarbeta area near the West Bengal-Nepal border, said the officer.
They were living in Nepal for the last three years to evade arrest from Manipur Police. They used to extort money from Government authorities, the local businessmen, private schools, leaders of political parties, operators of oil tankers etc by sending them threatening letters, said Kushwah. The cadres based at Manipur used to collect extortion money which was later distributed between different wings of the outfit. A part of the money was also received by the Nepal-based leaders of these outfits.
In January, the special cell had arrested the self-styled convener of KCP PWG Ranjeet Singh Porai alias Rocky.