Imphal: A militant belonging to a banned outfit has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a bomb attack at a fuel station in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, police said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as a 35-year-old active cadre of the proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), was apprehended from the Komnao Makha Leikai area of Kakching district, police officials said.
According to the police, a bomb was hurled at the Elidas fuel station in the Moirang Thana Leikai area around 8 pm on January 8. The explosion triggered an indefinite shutdown of all fuel stations across the valley areas of the northeastern state as a precautionary measure. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Following the arrest, police said the militant’s associates, allegedly involved in the attack, have been identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend them. Investigations into the motive behind the attack are also ongoing, officials added.
In a separate operation, security forces arrested another militant, an active cadre of the proscribed PREPAK (Pro), from Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai in Imphal West district on Monday, a police officer said.
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Security forces have intensified operations across the state to curb militant activities and ensure public safety, officials added.
Meanwhile, petrol pumps across the state’s valley districts were shut indefinitely from Saturday (January 10) following a bomb attack on a fuel station in Bishnupur district and continuing extortion-related threats, dealers said.
