In a major breakthrough, a wanted non-SoO Kuki militant allegedly involved in the infamous B Gamnom killing on October 12, 2021 has been apprehended, the Assam Rifles has claimed.
The Assam Rifles said that in a joint operation with police late Saturday, the Jwalamukhi Battalion of Headquarters 22 Sector under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) apprehended an active cadre of the non-SoO Kuki militant outfit, KNF-N.
The arrested militant has been identified as Satkithang Kipgen alias Thangboi alias Ranjit (37), son of (L) Khaikholam Kipgen of Damdei.
According to the Assam Rifles, the joint operation was carried out by COB Motbung of Jwalamukhi Battalion with Gamnom Saparmeina police based on inputs from sources regarding the presence of a non-SoO KNF-N cadre at Kholep village.
The operation was launched after the input was corroborated with various sources and detailed planning and the individual was apprehended from a mechanical workshop in National Highway 2 near Kholep village in Kangpokpi district at around 2:00 pm yesterday afternoon.
The apprehended cadre is the area commander of the region and was involved in the infamous firing incident at B Gamnom village which resulted in the killing of three innocent civilians on October 12 last, it added.
Two mobile phones along with some cash and one side bag were recovered from the possession of the apprehended individual who was later handed over to Gamnom Saparmeina Police Station along with the recovered items the same evening at around 8:30 pm.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister N Biren Singh had strongly condemned the killing of innocent civilians in the infamous B Gamnom firing and announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to whoever provides information about the terrorists involved in the firing while terming the incident an act of barbaric terrorism.
A few days after the firing incident at B Gamnom, Imphal West SP had claimed a joint team of Imphal West District Police Commando and a column of 15 Assam Rifles arrested three cadres of the banned Kuki National Front (N) allegedly involved in the indiscriminate firing in separate counter-insurgency operations carried out in Kangpokpi district.
The police also claimed to have recovered a 9 mm pistol and a magazine loaded with five 9 mm ammunition, a .32 pistol and a magazine loaded with three .32-calibre ammunition, and a mobile phone.
The police identified the arrested individuals as Hentinseh Singsit, Seigoulun Singsit, and Henminlun Misao.
However, the police claimed had been strongly denied by the arrested guardian Kakai Singsit, a prominent social activist and former ATSUM leader stating that it was a botched-up arrest that showed the Government's incompetency and inefficiency.
He claimed that the arrested trio were all drug users and had no connection whatsoever with the infamous B Gamnom killing as claimed by the police.
Various civil society organizations of Kangpokpi district had also resorted to various forms of democratic agitations demanding the unconditional release of the trio while Kakai Singsit ultimately had also resorted to 'Fast-Unto-Death' stir in December during Christmas time.
Despite allegedly proven innocence with evidence, the trio was put behind the bar including a minor boy Seigoulun Singsit whose age at the time according to his birth certificate was only 17.
Also Read: B Gamnom Killing: Arrested persons are AFSPA victims, says ATSUM
