Suspects in abduction bid of Ichanthoi held All held for extortions to be booked under NSA

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 14: Persons arrested in connection with extortion related activities will be booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and such cases will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency, said Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta today.
Extortion cases are on the rise in Manipur. To curb this illegal activity, Manipur police have taken steps to book persons arrested in such cases under the NSA. A recommendation has been sent for the National Investigation Agency to handle cases of extortion, the SP said, speaking to media persons at the conference hall of his office.
The SP was briefing media persons on the arrest of 7 KCP Nongdrenkhomba members today at his office when he made the statements.
SP Ksh Shivakanta said the 7 active members of the proscribed KCP Nongdrenkhomba arrested from Langol Game Village Zone-III this morning include a woman.
The seven have been identified as Loushangbam Alin (26) s/o (L) Bayron of Singjamei Oinam Thingel, Konsam Rohit (23) s/o Gonendro of Patsoi Part-I, Sanju Wahengbam alias Lemba (20) s/o (L) Sanjoy of Palace Compound Mahabali Mamang, Phan-joubam Thoiba Mangang alias Malem-nganba (26) s/o (L) Jiten of Thongju Part-II at present staying at Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, Waikhom Hero (21) s/o Iboyaima of Takhel Mamang Leikai, Yanglem Bikash alias Amujao (23) s/o (L) Heman-ta of Singjamei Yanglem Leikai and Henthoibi Moi-rangthem  alias Chan (41) d/o Kumar of Uripok Gopalaji Leirak.
The SP said that the arrested persons are suspectedly involved in the abduction attempt of social media influencer, RK Ichanthoi, at night from her own shop located at Tera Akham Leikai a few days ago.
The seven were arrested in an operation carried out following specific inputs, said the SP.
Ksh Shivakanta said the police received specific information about the presence of some active cadres of KCP Nongdrenkhomba group in and around Langol Game Village Zone-III area with the intention to commit prejudicial activities like extortion from the general public and shops.
Based on the information, a combined team of security forces conducted a search operation in and around Langol Game village Zone III. The operation resulted in the arrest of the 7 active members of the KCP Nongdrenkhomba group along with incriminating articles, he said.
The Imphal West SP said police recovered one Toyota Fortuner bearing a Manipur registration number. The vehicle registration number is suspected to be fake as the police have recovered 5 more number plates-- two number plates each of Assam and West Bengal, and one number plate of Manipur.
The SP further stated that the police also seized and recovered one Hyundai Grand i10 bearing Manipur registration number, one Royal Enfield with Manipur registration number, two Pistols with one magazine each and 2 live rounds, mobiles phones, combat uniforms, gears and other incriminating articles.
The arrested persons and the recovered items have been handed over to Lamphel police station for taking up necessary investigation and legal proceedings, he said.
Extortion related cases are rising in the State and people have protested such activities, said the SP.
Stating there is urgent need to curb extortion cases, the SP appealed to the public to inform the police if they have information on extortion related activities. If informed timely, police will be able to take up preventive measures and crack down on the criminals, he said. The SP added that the identity of the individuals who inform the police would be kept confidential.
To curb extortion related activities, the SP said the Manipur police have taken steps to book those arrested in the cases under the National Security Act (NSA).
A recommendation has also been sent for the NIA to take over the extortion related cases, the SP added.