Terror outfit’s hill manoeuvres laid bare - NIA uncovers Manipur militant group’s real estate investments in Darjeeling & Sikkim

Darjeeling, Aug. 4: The National Investigation Agency has found out that the banned Manipur-based terrorist organisation, Kanglei Yaol Kaba Lup, has been using residents of Darjeeling and Sikkim to set up bases in the region.

The NIA investigated the KYKL activities in the region and submitted a supplementary charge-sheet to the Darjeeling district and session court today. The supplementary charge sheet was filed by Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, a special superintendent of police and the chief investigation officer of the NIA.

The NIA took up the probe following the arrest of many KYKL members from the region in 2010.

Lhatoo confirmed the submission of the charge sheet, but refused to speak on the probe.

Sources involved in the investigation said the outfit had set up bases in Kurseong, Khaprail and even in Sikkim. “The members of the organisation used to send money from Manipur to their counterparts who had set up a base in the region for investment in real estate. The local people, who were unaware of the militants’ antecedents, were lured into the business. The militants had bought large tracts of lands in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri areas and had already constructed two three-storied buildings in Kurseong and Gangtok,” said a source.

The NIA and Darjeeling police had arrested two local persons, Saraswati Rai and Neera Tamang, from Khaprail area in Siliguri subdivision in March 2010. “Saraswati Rai, however, managed to obtain bail from Calcutta High Court,” said the source.

Some KYKL members in the region had also been picked up by the NIA. “The self-styled army commander-in-chief and finance-in-charge of the outfit, Ningthoujam Tomba, along with Sonokhybam Memcha, Roma Chanu, Sorokhaibhem Menjor Singh and Kangunjam Rabi Kumar Singh, had been arrested from from Khaprail, Siliguri and other places since March 2010,” the source added.

“During the investigation, it has also been established that Chirom Robert Meitei, Kongkham Tomba Singh, Asem Naoba Singh, Ch. Leishemba, along with the arrested man Ningthoujam Tomba, had entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the state,” the source added.

Chirom Robert Meitei was the information and publicity secretary of the outfit.

While Asem, Leishemba and Meitei are absconding, the police had arrested Kongkham, who, however, is currently out on bail. “The local people need to remain vigilant so that they are not lured by such people into business deals,” the source said.

A good amount of funds sent to the Darjeeling-Sikkim region would be later funnelled to KYKL agents in Nepal. The money would then be routed to Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore to procure arms.

With the NIA having submitted the charge sheet, trial against the nine accused is likely to start soon. “After the charge sheet is filed, a separate court will be set up for the purpose for the trial,” said a lawyer. Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, meaning “the organisation to save the revolutionary movement in Manipur” is a Meitei terrorist group formed in January 1994 following the merger of the Oken faction of the United National Liberation Front, the Meiraba faction of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, and the Ibo Pishak faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party.

The NIA says the KYLP has been declared a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

VIVEK CHHETRI(TT)