New UG outfit founder arrested with extortion letters in Manipur

Imphal: Manipur Police on Friday arrested founder of an underground outfit, Coalition For Liberation With Globalization of Kangleipak (COLIGK) along with extortion notice letters from a rented house at Kwakeithel Haorokchanbi near community hall Imphal West.

The person was identified as one Paikhomba Wahengbam alias Yohenba Mangang, 30, son of late W. Imocha Singh of Kumbi Mayai Leikai, Bishnupur district presently staying at the rented house of Samjetsabam Nandalal Singh of Kwakeithel Haorokchanbi.

Imphal West district police superintendent Ksh. Shivakanta on Friday told reporters at his conference hall that an information was received from a source about formation of a new underground outfit called as Coalition For Liberation With Globalization of Kangleipak. He said the outfit has been serving demand letters and threats to various government institutions, hospitals, press media institutions and others in the name of raising the fund of the outfit.

After analysis of technical INT and through human INT, the suspect was identified and his whereabouts were zeroed in at Kwakeithel Haorokchambi area, the senior police officer said.

Acting on the information commando teams under his overall supervision rushed to the Haorokchanbi area and conducted search operation at some suspected houses near a community hall.

During the operation at the rented house of Nandalal, one unknown person (later identified as Paikhomba) was found in a suspicious manner. Due to his suspicious manner he was detained for spot verification. After he identified his identity as Paikhomba, he disclosed that he is the person who formed COLIGK and trying to further the activities of the outfit in the name of self-styled finance and account of COLIGK, Yohenba Mangang, the officer said.

“He disclosed that he had served demand letters for the outfit to all the government affiliated colleges under Manipur University (40 colleges), director of RIMS, JNIMS, Medical Health Services, Manipur and AYUSH including various print, electronic media and admins of various social media page.”

Ninety-nine letter Head in the name of COLIGK; four monetary demand letters of COLIGK signed by self-styled Finance and Account, COLIGK Yohenba Mangang; one Lenovo laptop used in the activity of the outfit; one HP Ink Tank Printer; one red scooter (Pleasure) bearing registration number MN01L9397; one red i20 car colour bearing registration number MN04P1808; one wallet containing one driving license, a sum of Rs.6000, one ATM of Bank of India and 2000 Korean Won currency, 110 Bangladesh Taka currency, 700 Myanmar Kyat currency, 140 Thailand Baht currency; one pendrive of 6 GB capacity; and two mobile phones were seized from his possession, the senior police officer said.

He appealed the people and government institutions to inform timely and cooperate with police so that such activity can be stopped at the earliest. “It is pertinent to mention that this is a major achievement of the Manipur Police that the man behind the newly formed organization COLIGK is arrested at the initial stage of the formation of the organization.”

Shivakanta cautioned the people not to give any sort of money to such extortion demand, should instead inform to the police. “Any person found giving money to UGs will be taken necessary legal action.”

The arrested person and the seized items have been handed over to Imphal police station for further investigation. investigation is going on to arrest his associates, if any, at the earliest, he added.