PLA rebel nabbed in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: In a joint operation, the CRPF's 67 battalion and police on Saturday succeeded to nab a self-styled 'lieutenant colonel' of the proscribed People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur. Thoungjam Ibomcha, 51, alias Bali alias Maibam Tomba Singh, was arrested from the Hengrabari area of the city.
Police found five mobile phones, a laptop, a hard disk, fake driving licenses of Thoubal district of Manipur and Wokha of Nagaland and a motor bike on the rebel.
"We had reports of his movements in the city and had been tracing him for sometime. We caught him from Dispur's Hengrabari area. PLA militants have chosen the city as a safe hideout," said a top official of Assam police operation wing.
Ibomcha Singh hails from Yairipok village in Thoubal district of Manipur and had joined the PLA in 1982. He is believed to be one of the top ranking leaders of the Manipuri militant outfit.
Sometime ago, seven suspected PLA militants were arrested from city's Christian basti area.
On the other hand, two militants - one from Ulfa and another from NDFB - surrendered to police in Lakhimpur district on Saturday. "'One Ulfa and an NDFB militant surrendered to police this morning. They have deposited two 7.65 pistols, four magazines, ammunition and two mobile handsets," said SP (Lakhimpur) David Naithan.
He added that the Ulfa militant was identified as Keshob Gogoi of Gohpur Chotrong area in the district.