The Manipur Police on Wednesday arrested the prime suspect in connection with the ambush that killed two Assam Rifles personnel on September 19.

The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Khomdram Ojit Singh alias Keilal, is a resident of Awang Leikinthabi Awang Leikai in Imphal West, the police said.

Singh was arrested at about 1 am in a joint operation conducted by the Imphal West and Bishnupur district police, along with the 33 Assam Rifles unit, the statement added.

The suspect is allegedly a bailed-out member of the Manipur-based banned People’s Liberation Army and had previously been arrested in April 2007.

During his interrogation, Singh confessed to being actively involved in the ambush and that he had continued to work with the banned outfit, the police claimed.

A cache of weapons, a mobile phone, a wallet and an Aadhaar card were recovered based on information provided by Singh, the police said.

“Examination of the arrested person is continuing and certain leads have been established,” the statement said. “Raids are being carried out to apprehend other culprits involved in the said ambush”.

On September 19, a vehicle carrying personnel of the 33 Assam Rifles came under heavy fire from armed militants as the convoy passed through the Nambol Sabal Leikai village in Bishnupur district.

Five Assam Rifles personnel were also injured in the attack.

This was the first deadly attack on the central security forces in Manipur since last year and came six days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.

The Manipur government condemned the attack and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the soldiers who were killed and Rs 2 lakh for each injured personnel.

Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities that have killed at least 260 persons and displaced more than 59,000 persons since May 2023. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024.

President’s Rule was imposed in February after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.

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