Armed miscreants fired several rounds of bullets during an attempted abduction of a couple allegedly involved in drug trafficking in Sangaiyumpham Mamang Leikai under Thoubal Police Station, Thoubal district in Manipur on Monday around 8.30 pm.
As per sources, around seven-eight unidentified individuals reportedly apprehended the couple along with drugs. As the assailants tried to abduct the couple, the wife screamed, leading to a scuffle with a pedestrian who had come to offer prayers.
Sources said that shots were fired from unknown directions during the incident. One of the assailants sustained injuries and was rushed to Swiss Hospital in Wangjing Heirok Lamkhai before being transferred to RIMS Hospital. The injured has been reportedly identified as one Moirangmayum Romantic, 28, son of Hemanta from Wangjing.
Meanwhile, another assailant, identified as Narengbam Gobin, 38, son of Late Iboyaima, was reportedly arrested by Thoubal Police.
Later, local residents clarified that the assailants were not affiliated with the Arambai Tenggol group, contrary to initial announcements made by the locals using a loudspeaker.
Meanwhile, a combined security force launched search operations and seized a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
According to police, a combined team of Thoubal District Police, 3 IRB and 33 Assam Rifle seized six live rounds of INSAS Rifle, five fired cartridges of 9mm rounds, one empty case of .303 ammunition, one each empty cases of INSAS & SLR ammunition from the roadside of IVR Wangjing Cherapur at Sangaiyumpham Thanga Leikai at 9.05 pm.
The same team further seized one 9mm pistol No. 20777 along with a magazine loaded with five live rounds ammunition,one Redmi 9A along with Jio SIM card bearing mobile no.7005512943, one Swift car red in colour and one SMG carbine bearing no. 16200764 with one magazine from the possession of Narengbam Gobin who has been identified as an active cadre of a faction of the proscribed KYKL on Monday at 11.30 pm from Heirok crossing near Swiss hospital, Wangjing.
Further, the same team arrested the injured cadre of the same outfit, Moirangmayum Romantic, on the same day at 11.57 pm from Swiss hospital.
A case has been registered at Thoubal Police Station for further investigation.
