Manipur blast accused turns out to be IRB jawan

IMPHAL: Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Thursday told the assembly that the NSCN (IM) cadre arrested in connection with the recent blast at Sangakpham Bazaar in Imphal was actually an India Reserve Battalion jawan.

Taking serious note of the series of terrorist activities perpetrated by the Naga outfit in the state, Okram, who also holds the home portfolio, said he has pressurized the Prime Minister and home minister to revoke the ceasefire between the outfit and the Centre.

The powerful IED, which went off on August 1, killed at five persons, including two girl students and a cadre of the outfit, in Senapati district. Besides, eight others were injured. The slain militant has been identified as Anthony of Sadu Koireng. The explosive was fitted to a scooter on which Anthony was sitting. The explosion took place a few seconds after Autonomous District Council (ADC) members left the spot in a vehicle.

Zanglung Kamei from Tamenglong, who was arrested from Imphal on August 7, was posted as a security escort of the chairman of Autonomous District Council (ADC). On being quizzed, it was found out that he was a jawan of 4 India Reserve Battalion and not an NSCN (IM) rebel.

Responding to a call attention motion raised by two legislators of the Manipur People's Party (MPP) in the assembly, the chief minister said Zanglung was Anthony's relative. Referring to the police's probe report, the CM said Zanglung, who is in judicial custody, gave movement reports of the ADC chairman to the NSCN (I-M) so that the latter could carry out attacks.

Commenting on the series of violent strikes triggered by NSCN (I-M) in Manipur, the CM said he had apprised the Prime Minister and the home minister of the matter.

Recently, the chief minister had said the Sangakpham blast was the sixth violent strike triggered by the NSCN (IM) in the state in less than four months. The NSCN (IM), which denied involvement in the explosion, had said it would not accept false allegations hurled against it and that it was not responsible for the act.