Seven militants arrested in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Security forces have arrested seven militants belonging to various proscribed outfits in Manipur, police said on Friday.
All arrests were made on Wednesday and Thursday from Imphal West, Tengnoupal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, they said.
Two active cadres of the banned Peoples' Liberation Army were apprehended from Wangoi Bazar in Imphal West district, an officer said.
The central forces arrested one each belonging to the proscribed United National Liberation Front (Koireng) and outlawed PREPAK (Pro) from the vicinity of the border pillar 87 along the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district.
One active member of the banned KCP (PWG) was held from the Sekmaijing Khunou area in Kakching district, another police officer said, adding that the accused was involved in extortion activities in the valley area.
One woman cadre of the outlawed KCP (PSC) was apprehended from Phaknung Thongkhong in Imphal East district on Wednesday.
Another active member of the proscribed outfit Prepak was arrested from Kwakta Terakhongshangbi Bazar in Bishnupur district for allegedly being involved in extortion activities.
Arms and ammunition were seized from his residence on Wednesday, the officer added.
Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out two years ago.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President’s rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned.
The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
