SILCHAR: Assam police have detained three Kuki refugees from the violence-stricken region of Manipur, accusing them of involvement in a series of armed robberies within the Cachar district.
The arrested Kuki refugees from Manipur have been identified as Dimngel Lalboi Michael, Paojalen Dimngel, and Thangboi Dimngel, all hailing from Saijong and Paohao villages in Kangpokpi district, Manipur.
The trio was apprehended by Assam police in Cachar district while travelling in a Mizoram-registered vehicle. Subrata Sen, the Additional SP of Cachar district, revealed that the three individuals had been involved in robbing shops and petrol pumps over the past two months.
During the last two months, they robbed cash worth Rs 3-4 lakh and other valuable items from several shops, including wine and hardware outlets and petrol pumps, the police officer claimed.
The accused persons have been engaged in robberies in various parts of the district and arrested on Saturday, Sen told reporters.
During an initial investigation, it has been found that all of them are residents of Manipur's Kangpokpi district and they have been displaced from their homes following an ethnic strife in the neighbouring state.
'They had initially taken shelter in a camp in Mizoram's Kolasib district. Later, they entered Assam and got involved in illegal activities here," Sen claimed.
"They have been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," he added.
Furthermore, the police seized two firearms and ammunition from the possession of the detained trio. The arrested individuals are now facing charges under sections 392 (robbery) and 397 (attempt to cause death or grievous hurt during robbery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The arrest of these refugees highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat criminal activities in the region, particularly those related to armed robberies.
Meanwhile, Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, has called upon the Union Home Ministry to put an end to the free movement policy along the India-Myanmar border and accelerate the border's fencing efforts. The free movement policy currently permits individuals residing in close proximity to the India-Myanmar border to cross 16 kilometres into each other's territories without requiring documentation.
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