On December 14, the Manipur Police apprehended six members of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) for their involvement in extortion activities in the Salungpham area of Thoubal district. The suspects were armed with automatic weapons. Acting on a tip-off, police officers confronted the cadres, who opened fire. The police returned fire and managed to arrest the individuals.
During the altercation, one of the cadres, 18-year-old Laishram Prem Singh from Thoubal Khunou, was injured and later died at Raj Medicity Hospital in Imphal. Singh had been reported missing by his family on August 13, 2024, but had since joined PREPAK and was residing in Kakching Khunou.
The arrested cadres were identified as Thokchom Momocha, Sarangthem Anand Singh, Ningthoujam Karna, Ningthoujam Manoranjan Singh, Thongam Phalguni, and Moirangthem Johnson. They had traveled from Kakching Khunou area to conduct extortion in Salungpham village.
Manipur Police recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition from the suspects, including several rifles, live rounds, two vehicles, and mobile phones. Preliminary investigations suggest that the weapons were stolen from police armories. A forensic team and a magistrate were brought in to aid the investigation.
In response to the incident, Meira Paibis organized a protest at Thoubal Melaground, blocking the National Highway and demanding the unconditional release of the arrested individuals. Women from various parts of the district participated in the demonstration. Protesters condemned the death of Laishram Prem Singh and called for legal action against the police personnel involved in the shooting.
This incident adds to the complex law and order challenges in the region, highlighting issues related to insurgency and public dissatisfaction with law enforcement actions.
