Manipur Police have apprehended three suspects to be involved in Monday’s Nongshum incident in which three civilians were killed while the other three sustained bullet injuries when the victims went to collect firewood.
Addressing a press conference at Police Headquarters in Imphal this evening, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Manipur, Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, said that a joint team of security forces comprising Manipur Police, Indian Army, Assam Rifles and CRPF Cobra conducted a search operation around the incident place. The team apprehended three persons this morning in connection with the killing of three woodcutters at Nongshum Hills.
The ADGP said that two of the arrested had admitted to being members of the assault team which is responsible for killing three civilians and injuring others, while the role of the third person is being investigated. He said that during the operation 12 sophisticated firearms, including INSAS rifles, AK-47, M-16, Sniper rifles, Type 81 rifles, hand grenades, Pompi bombs, over one thousand rounds of live ammunition, poppy plant seeds, radio sets and explosives were recovered.
The ADGP appealed to the public to remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from spreading rumours or unverified information on social media and urged to cooperate with security forces in maintaining peace and preventing violence.
