Imphal, April 15: A Tamil resident of Moreh town has been arrested and handed over to Moreh police station by troopers of 24 Assam Rifles yesterday on charges of being a finance secretary of the banned UNLF organisation.

The troopers AR reported recovery of cash, arms and ammunition from the arrested person identified as V Shekhar (41) s/o Veeriaya of Moreh Ward No 1.A statement issued by the PIB (DW) conveyed of the Assam Rifles authority claiming the arrested individual as the finance secretary of UNLF.

One 12 bore repeater rifle, (prohibited bore) one .38 pistol, 28 rounds of 12 bore, 18 rounds of .32, six rounds of .38, two long range (50 km) cordless sets of Senao, two long range (50 km) cordless sets of Nokia, incriminating documents with details of explosive transactions and Rs 2,06,000 were named in the recovery list.

However, our Moreh correspondent quoted the arrested person claiming that the seized .38 pistol and 12 bore rifle are licensed arms.

A case has been registered in Moreh police station under various act of arms possession.

The AR raiding party conducted searches at Shekhar's residence from about 11.30 am till dusk as local meira paibis thronged the place and questioned reasons of Shekhar's arrest as well as opposing his likely detention at the AR post leading to arrival of addition security force to quell steady swelling of the gathering.

Later, the arrestee was escorted by the civilians to Moreh police station where the seized items were also deposited.

Prior to his detention, Shekhar disclosed to news-persons of the AR team conducting searches at his residence without furnishing any reason for the act.

Categorically denying charges levelled against him, Shekhar contended that all the arms are licensed with two registered in his name and two others recorded in the name of his brothers' Rajendra and Kannan.

Inspite of the search lasting for nearly eight hours, no incriminating materials/documents had been recovered, said Sekhar while maintaining that he has nothing to do with the UNLF organisation as accused by the security force.

Speakers at a hurriedly convened meeting endorsed V Sekhar as a prominent business person actively involved in the Indo-Myanmar border trade.

Speculating that some vested interest might be behind his detention, the meeting also took serious note of a public figure being made the scapegoat.

Sekhar is also the general secretary of Chamber of Commerce (Moreh), Tamil Sangam, Chandel District Cricket Association as well as president of Sunrise Youth Club.

Meanwhile, Imphal West SP informed of Imphal West commandos and personnel of 22 Maratha Light Infantry arresting an INF activist from Oinam Sawombung Makha Leikai yesterday morning.

Identifying the arrested person as Md Rafiuddin (33) s/o Md Nasiruddin of Moirang Kwakta Sekta Leikai, the police statement informed of one 9 mm pistol with two live rounds recovered from Rafiuddin's possession by the combined team.

In another development, one Lulun Khongsai (20) s/o Lamlan of Churachandpur district has been admitted to Shija Hospital, Langol at around 7.30 am today with bullet wounds on the chest and abdomen areas.

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