Imphal/Siliguri, March 14: Manipur police commandos arrested the self-styled commander-in-chief of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Ningthoujam Tomba alias Koireng, from Siliguri in West Bengal during a joint operation with local police this evening.
Though the superintendent of police, Imphal East, Th. Radheshyam Singh, confirmed the arrest of the top militant leader, Darjeeling police superintendent D. P. Singh merely said a “person from Manipur” was arrested in Siliguri.
“We are not sure whether he belongs to any militant outfit, we have sent a word to the Manipur police and are interrogating the person,” Singh said without naming the person arrested.
He even refused to disclose when or from where the person was arrested.
In Manipur, police celebrated the prized catch, the 57-year-old leader of the major Meitei rebel group.
Radheshyam Singh said the rebel leader was cornered at Khaprai bazaar of Siliguri at 6.30pm today.
“We have arrested the commander-in-chief, Tomba of the KYKL, this evening from Khaprai bazaar by our commando unit and police of the area. Only a few details have been received here,” the SP said.
The SP could not say whether they were cornered in a hotel or any rented house.
He, however, said some women were also with the rebel leader when he was taken into custody.
The police said a satellite cell phone was seized from Tomba, who hails from Nambol Kongkham Leikai of Bishnupur district.
The SP said Tomba was wanted by Manipur police for his involvement in various cases.
Sources in Imphal said the rebel leader was either returning from Nepal or trying to enter the neighbouring country when he was arrested.
Manipur police could not immediately confirm whether the others caught with him are cadres of the group or not.
According to army records, the KYKL was formed in January 1994. Its military wing is known as Miyamgi Yawol Lanmee.
It is fighting for “sovereignty” of Manipur.
KYKL chief held in Siliguri
