Impal, Jul 18: In a significant development, the State Government has detained all the four PLA cadres who were recently deported from Thailand under the National Security Act (NSA).

Based on police report, District Magistrate Y Surchandra yesterday passed the orders in exercise of the power conferred upon him under section 3 (2) of the National Security Act, 1980 against Thounaojam Romen (40), Thingujam Roben (36), Loitongbam Ibomcha (30) and Bankim Tourangbam (36).While passing the orders, the District Magistrate maintained that they would act prejudicial to the security of the State and maintenance of public order, sources said, adding that they might be released on bail.

Thailand security forces arrested the four along with a huge cache of arms from the high seas of the country on March 8, 1997.Since then they had been imprisoned till June 30 this year.

They were released following a series of clemencies accorded by the Thai authorities.

On July 6 this year, they were deported to India amid allegations raised by Amnesty International that the two countries breached the formal extradition process in their deportation.

The plea of the four to grant them refugee status was also processed by the UN High Commission of Refugee.

Yesterday, Mayang Imphal Police formally re-arrested three cadres out of the four on the charge of their alleged involvement in an ambush on a police party way back in August 1995.The formal arrest was granted by the Judicial Magistrate First Class Imphal before whom the four were also produced.

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