Manipur: 4 PLA cadres arrested for extortion from brickfields and quarry workers 

Security forces carried out a focused 36-hour operation across districts in Manipur Valley and arrested four cadres of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — the armed wing of the proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF). The men are accused of extorting money from brickfield owners, quarry workers and members of the public along the Thoubal River. Police recovered mobile phones, identity documents, cash and a Tata Ace Gold four-wheeler during the operation.

Over a 36-hour, multi-district operation, security forces rounded up four people linked to the PLA/RPF. The operation began with arrests near the RIMS Hospital area in Imphal and extended into Thoubal district, where additional suspects were detained at their homes. Among the items seized during the phases of the operation were mobile phones, Aadhaar cards, a small amount of cash, and a Tata Ace Gold four-wheeler that had been used in alleged extortion activities.

The four men named in police reports include senior and self-styled cadres of the PLA/RPF, some described as having given themselves “corporal” ranks. The names reported are:

• Kayenpaibam Lokendro Singh (58) — arrested near RIMS Hospital.
• Indrajit Ningthoujam (51), also known as Angou — arrested alongside Lokendro.
• Wairokpam Sanahal Singh (46), aka Nongdamba — arrested from his residence in Yairipok, Thoubal district.
• Khundongbam Nandabir Meitei (55), aka Chinglen — arrested from Heirok Salam Leirak, Thoubal district.

Police publicly listed several items seized across the phases of the operation: a pair of mobile phones, a wallet containing a small sum of cash (reported as Rs 1,010), two Aadhaar cards, and a Tata Ace Gold goods vehicle (registration AS 01NC 1476). In addition, a mobile phone with a SIM card was seized when officers arrested the suspect in Yairipok. These items may seem small, but mobile phones and cash often provide the investigative leads that link a local collector to higher-level organizers. 

Frequently Asked Questions (5 unique Q&A)

Q1: Who were the four people arrested and where were they detained?

A1: Police named four PLA/RPF cadres — Kayenpaibam Lokendro Singh, Indrajit Ningthoujam (Angou), Wairokpam Sanahal Singh (Nongdamba) and Khundongbam Nandabir Meitei (Chinglen) — arrested in a phased operation across Imphal and Thoubal districts. 

Q2: What crimes are they accused of?

A2: The group is accused of extorting money from brickfield owners, quarry workers and residents along the Thoubal River. Authorities say the arrests were part of a 36-hour operation to disrupt these extortion activities. 

Q3: What evidence did police seize during the operation?

A3: Items seized included mobile phones, identity documents (Aadhaar cards), a small amount of cash (reported as Rs 1,010), and a Tata Ace Gold four-wheeler which police say was linked to the alleged extortion. 

Q4: Why are brick kilns and quarries frequent targets for extortion?

A4: Brickfields and quarries often handle steady cash flows, operate in remote areas, and involve vulnerable daily-wage workers — conditions that make them attractive and easy targets for forced levies or protection money. Extortion increases costs for operators and harms local economies.

Q5: What should come next after arrests to ensure long-term safety?

A5: Authorities should perform thorough digital forensics, trace vehicle movements, prosecute the accused transparently, offer protections to victims and witnesses, and pursue higher-level financiers or organizers — so that arrests translate into sustained disruption of criminal networks.