Imphal: Phillips Khaikholal Khongsai, the mastermind in the killing of SDPO Moreh, Chingtham Anand, was arrested by Manipur police on Wednesday evening.
Anand was killed by a sniper bullet on November 1 last year when he was supervising the cleaning of a ground at Moreh for the construction of a helipad.
Police sources said Khongsai along with Hemkholai Mate, chief of K Mousang village, was apprehended by a team of Manipur police commandos under the supervision of SP, Tengnoupal, Rahul Gupta, around 5.30 pm in front of ADC, Moreh, near Moreh College.
The ex-serviceman was addressing a meeting of some 50 women who were protesting against the deployment of BSF troops near the ADC office at the time of his arrest, a police officer, who wished not to be identified, told The North East Affairs.
Since the killing of SDPO Anand, Manipur police have been closely monitoring Khongsai’s movement. Not only was he involved in the eviction of Meiteis from Moreh when the ethnic clashes erupted between the Meities and Kuki-Zo on May 3, Khongsai also founded the Moreh Defence Force, a group of armed militias that frequently attacked the state and central security forces.
When the police team entered the premises of the meeting, some armed militants fired upon them, to which the police party also retaliated. One woman sustained a minor injury, the police officer said.
Khangsai and Mate are currently under the custody of 5th Assam Rifles, Moreh, sources further said.
The killing of Anand, who hailed from Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai, Imphal, triggered spontaneous protests in the valley and soon the state cabinet held an emergency meeting at the official residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The cabinet said the police officer was killed in ‘unprovoked firing by armed Kuki militants’.
