Assam and Manipur Police Arrest Two Senior PLA Cadres in Bishnupur Ambush on Assam Rifles
Assam and Manipur police have arrested two senior operatives of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in connection with the September 19 ambush on Assam Rifles personnel in Bishnupur district, Manipur — an attack that killed two soldiers and injured five. The arrests — which bring the total number of PLA suspects detained in the case to three — followed interrogation of an earlier-captured suspect and led to recovery of multiple rifles, ammunition and personal items linked to the ambush.
On September 19, a vehicle of the 33 Assam Rifles was ambushed at Sabal Leikai, Nambol in Bishnupur district. The attack resulted in the tragic death of two Assam Rifles personnel and left five others injured — a serious blow to security forces and the local community. The ambush triggered an intensive investigation and joint operations by Manipur police, Assam police units, and paramilitary forces to track down those responsible.
Two senior PLA cadres were detained as follow-ups to earlier arrests:
- Chongtham Mahesh (also known as Momo or Amo Singh), aged 51, a senior PLA operative reportedly associated with the outfit since the 1990s. He was arrested in Guwahati with assistance from the Assam Crime Branch.
- Thongram Sadananda Singh (aliases Ngachik or Purakpa), aged 18, from Wangbal Heiruthong Leikai in Thoubal district, arrested from his residence.
These arrests followed information obtained during the interrogation of Khundongbam Ojit Singh (alias Keilal), who was apprehended earlier on September 24. Information from Keilal reportedly helped investigators identify the locations of the other PLA operatives.
Police say they recovered a substantial cache of weapons and items linked to the ambush. The recovered materials reportedly included:
- An A4 rifle with magazines
- HK and AK rifles
- An INSAS rifle and ammunition
- Lathode shells (used in certain Indian small arms)
- Personal items such as mobile phones, a wallet and an Aadhaar card — items that can be vital for confirming identities and movement.
FAQs
Q1: Who were the persons arrested in connection with the Bishnupur ambush?
A1: Authorities named Chongtham Mahesh (also known as Momo/Amo Singh) and Thongram Sadananda Singh (aliases Ngachik/Purakpa) as two senior PLA cadres arrested following interrogation of an earlier detainee. The arrests brought the total PLA suspects held in connection with the case to three
Q2: When did the ambush occur and what were the casualties?
A2: The ambush took place on September 19 at Sabal Leikai, Nambol (Bishnupur). Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five were injured.
Q3: What evidence did police recover during the operations?
A3: Police reported recovering multiple firearms (including A4, HK, AK and INSAS rifles), magazines, ammunition, lathode shells, mobile phones, a wallet and an Aadhaar card, among other items. These are being processed for forensic value.
Q4: How were these arrests possible — was there cross-state coordination?
A4: Yes. The arrests involved coordination between Manipur police and Assam agencies (including the Guwahati Crime Branch), with information from an earlier arrest proving pivotal to locating other suspects.
Q5: What happens next in the case?
A5: Forensics and interrogation will continue, evidence will be compiled for legal proceedings, and investigators will try to identify additional accomplices and logistical networks. Meanwhile, local authorities are expected to maintain heightened security to prevent further incidents.
