By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 4 : Pambei-led UNLF cadres nabbed three armed 'miscreants' with arms and ammunition at Langol yesterday night, said its chief of Army Staff in-charge Th Thoiba alias Sidabamapu today.
The three persons have been identified as Khwairakpam Kumar (40) of Thanga Oinam Leikai (at present staying at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai), Nongthombam Goroba (38) of Nagamapal Paonam Leikai (at present staying at Langol Games Village Zone-IV) and Sougrakpam Hemjit (36) of Ithai Mamang Leikai (at present staying at Lamphel).
The items recovered from the possession of the three persons, who identified themselves as village volunteers, include 4 SLRs with magazines, 3 INSAS Rifles with magazines, 1 mini INSAS with a magazine, one barrel gun with 16 rounds, three bullet-proof vests and 1 Samurai sword. A total of 122 ammunition were also recovered from their possession.
Speaking to media persons at the outfit's Ingourok Brigade-1 camp, Thoiba said the three armed miscreants were nabbed by a team led by Commander of Pakhangba Battalion Major Ningol Lakpa alias Boicha. The three armed miscreants were causing trouble and fear among the members of the public, and as such, they were reined in by the battalion commander and his team, he said.
Lauding the battalion's Commander and his team for reining in the three miscreants, the Chief of Army Staff in-charge encouraged all officers and cadres to do the same and instill a feeling of safety and security among the public.
Thoiba, however, asserted that his party is not against village volunteers who are sincerely guarding villages in the peripheries of the valley.
"While we are not against village volunteers, strict action will be taken up against individuals or groups who are against the public and the party," he said.
Pakhangba Bn CO Ningol Lakpa said at around 11.30 pm yesterday at Naoremthong area, some unknown men beat two cadres of Pambei-led UNLF and snatched arms and ammunition from them. When pursued, the armed miscreants were traced to a place at Langol, where a team of the battalion conducted a search operation and nabbed the three miscreants with arms and ammunition. Meanwhile, one person identified as Sunder (42) from Sekta is "absconding". He must contact the organisation within 3 days, warned the Commander.