Man behind recent serial bomb blasts in Imphal arrested; Cops recover explosive materials

Imphal: Manipur police has arrested a man said to be an active cadre of National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) allegedly involved in the recent series of bomb blasts in Imphal area including the latest blast at the gate of the Little Flower School. The police also recovered explosives and other materials used in assembling IED from the possession of the arrested cadre identified as Thounaojam Rishi Luwangcha (46) of Imphal East district, according to police.

The recovered items were a detonator fitted on a cordtex wire of one foot approximately, 58 PEK sticks weighing around 7.358 kg approximately, three coils of cordtex wire, 397 detonators and two batteries, according to the police.

Addressing the media at his office, Imphal West superintendent of police, Ksh Shivkanta Singh said that the man was arrested during an operation launched by a team of Imphal West police commandos at Kangla Sangomshang area under Lamlai police station of Imphal East district on Monday night, around 10 pm.

He said that based on specific information, the police commando team led by additional SP (Ops) M Amit Singh rushed to the area last night. The team cordoned off some houses of the area to conduct the operation and while the operation was in progress, a person was seen running on the back of a house. He was instantly overpowered by the police team along with a jar which was later found containing a detonator fitted on a cordtex wire of 1 feet approximately, 58 PEK sticks weighing around 7.358 kg approximately, three coils of cordtex wire, 397 detonators and two batteries, the police officer said.

During spot verification, it was revealed that he was the person behind the recent series of bomb blasts in Imphal area, including the latest blast at Little Flower School, Imphal. According to the police officer, the man was also behind the bomb blast at a shop in Nagamapal on May 5 and another one at located at Khurai Thoudingjam Leikai on May 6, the SP alleged.

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According to the police officer, the arrested person also disclosed that he started working for the said organization in September, 2021 under the command of one self-styled chairman Dhaballo, who is presently staying in Bangladesh. He received the explosive substances from his commander through an unknown person in January, 2022. The cadre received Rs 30,000 for each bomb blast, the police officer stated.

A mobile phone, Rs 9,000 and his Aadhar card were recovered from him. Further search of his house led to the recovery of some mechanical tools used in assembling the explosive substances. The recovered item included a soldering iron rod, a bolt cutter, ratchet wire stripper, a cutter blade, 18 small iron rods and one insulating tape.

Vehicles and some other particular clothes used in the commission of the recent bomb blasts were also recovered, the police officer added.

The arrested person and the seized items will be handed over to Lamlai police station for further necessary actions.

NNN

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