What was banned Manipuri outfit's chief doing in Bengaluru?

A self-styled commander-in-chief of banned Manipuri outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (MC) was arrested from Bengaluru by a Delhi Police team, police said on Tuesday.

Nangthanbam Anand alias Malengamba (36) was apprehended from Bengaluru on May five following investigations into the seizure of 200 kg ephedirine worth Rs two crore from an alleged KCP (MC) militant on April one.

Anand was allegedly involved in the throwing of bombs into Imphal Raj Bhavan in 2008.

"Napolean who was arrested on April one told us that he was working with one Robindro. Investigations revealed that Robindro is a trade partner of Malengamba, whom we learnt was operating from Karnataka," Arun Kampani, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), said.

A laptop, seven mobile phones, pen drives, internet broadband connection and documents, threat e-mails and extortion letters related to KCP (MC) have been recovered. The accused was brought to Delhi and is in police custody till May 13.

After the arrest of Napolean, Delhi Police had claimed that the militants from the north-eastern region have started indulging in drug trade to cough up money for their activities besides extorting money from government officials and contractors.

Anand studied upto Class IV and was unemployed. In 2002, he was arrested in a criminal case and thus met with one Thockchom Nando, who motivated him to join his outfit KCP (Tabungba) Group.

"The outfit was involved in extortion and killing innocent people. Subsequently in 2009, Nando met him in the jail again and directed him to raise another faction in the name of KCP (Malengamba). He was also nominated as commander-in-chief of the outfit.

"He extended threats to various political leaders, government officials and MNC executives in order to get protection money. When police in Manipur built up pressure on him, he along with his wife Salima Soibam and son Jemson shifted to Goa. After staying there for a short span of time, he shifted to Bangalore about seven months ago," Kampani said.

Anand allegedly used to get directions from Nando from Central Jail in Sajiwa from his mobile phone. Nando used to recruit cadre from jail and give the detainee's contact number to Anand.

"Nando also assigned him the task of getting protection money from mobile phone companies and tower operators. When the tower operator once did not heed to his demands, he directed one Phireppa to kill one Borobabu, a Reliance mobile phone operator," Kampani said.

Anand also allegedly threatened MLAs Bijoi Kozem, Skrujoy, Allaudin and NG Bijoi not to contest elections and also extorted money worth lakhs of rupees. He frequently changed his mobile number so as not to get caught, he said.

Nando had also nominated Anand as the Public Secretary of the outfit to give press note on behalf of the outfit. He also allegedly used to write on the letter pad of KCP for seeking financial contribution from various business houses, individuals and officials.

"He also invested his share of extortion money in drugs trade in order to extract more profit. He was in touch with Napolean and Robindro as an associate in their drugs trade," Kampani said.