Imphal, December 09: A cadre of the proscribed PREPAK reportedly involved in the November 16 bomb attack at Videocon House, Paona Bazar which killed one and injured four others was pulled up by Imphal West district police commandos from Khurai Salanthong Chaithabi Leirak at about 11.30 last night.

The arrested cadre is identified as Yumkham Naobi alias Tombi alias Dhanaraj (22) son of Y Sing Kumar of Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai Salan Leirak.

Parading Naobi before media persons today, SP Imphal West, Clay Khongsai said that a team of Imphal West commandos, acting on a specific information, launched an operation in Khurai Salanthong area at about 11.30 pm yesterday.

During the operation, Yumkham Naobi was pulled up from the residence of late PREPAK cadre Mutum Sanatomba alias James (25) s/o Menjor of Salanthong Chaithabi Leirak along with a scooter (NV Select).

Mutum Sanatomba was slain in an encounter with Imphal West commandos in Lamphel quarter area on December 6.In the course of interrogation, Naobi disclosed that he was directly involved in the November 16 bomb attack in Paona Bazar.

He confessed that Sanatomba himself undertook the bomb attack.

For the attack, they used the scooter seized by police yesterday which bears registration number MN 02/5938, conveyed SP Clay Khongsai.

Police have records of PREPAK cadres using the same scooter in their activities including the case of shooting a restaurant owner and confiscating mobile phone handsets and money from customers in a restaurant located at Ghari on October 29, the SP disclosed.

Naobi claimed that he was working as a brick layer before he came close with Sanatomba who was his uncle (mother's brother).

Even though it was known that Sanatomba was imprisoned for some time at the insistence of his own family members for abusing drug, it was never known that he was a cadre of PREPAK, Naobi said.

On November 16, Sanatomba took him to Paona Bazar on the pretext of buying pants.

But there, he hurled the grenade without ever disclosing his intention, Naobi conveyed.

After hurling the bomb, they drove towards Kangjeibung and then inside DM College campus on their way back home.

On reaching home, Sanatomba told Naobi not to tell any one about the incident and to stay home.

The seized scooter is registered against the name of another slain PREPAK cadre Momon, the SP conveyed.

Comment