Imphal: Arrested commander-in-chief of Kangleipak Communist Party (MTF) Chirom Tiken alias Prem alias Sunil Meitei escaped from the custody of the Porompat Police of Imphal East on Monday night.
The escape of the KCP leader was confirmed when Manipur Police Department made a public announcement of a cash reward of Rs one lakh to any person who can provide information or otherwise leading to the arrest of the escape of the militant leader.
The commander-in-chief of the KCP faction was arrested by a combined team of Delhi Police and 16 Maratha Light Infantry from Ijipura, Bangalore on June 29 and brought back to Imphal a team of Bishnupur district police on July 21.
He was also the main accused in the killing of a pharmacist at Yumnam Huidram, Imphal West district earlier this year. He was brought back by a special team of Bishnupur police led by SDPO Hopson from New Delhi after obtaining transit remand from a local court there.
Popularly known as Sunil Meitei is an accused in many criminal activities related to extortion and murder in various parts of Bishnupur, Imphal West and Imphal East districts. Porompat police took him custody from Bishnupur police for an investigation to the cases involving him, registered with the police station last week.
The self-styled commander of a banned outfit was arrested by Delhi police along with one of his associate for their alleged involvement in connection with the recovery of 200 kg of ephedrine worth Rs two crore in April this year.
After his arrest Delhi police had claimed smashed of a racket of smugglers of amphetamine stimulants such as the ecstasy drug, ephedrine, etc.
How the commander escaped from the lock-up could not be ascertained immediately as newsmen were barred from examining the lock-up cell where he was kept and officials were not responded when contacted. Interestingly, all of the three other inmates lodged together with him were found in the cell.
Top officials of the district police could not be available for comment as they did not pick up phones when contacted.
However, a highly reliable source said that following the incident, 15 policemen including the office-in-charge of the police station, inspector Geetchandra, a sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector have been placed under suspension for their service for dereliction of duty.
All police stations and outposts across the state and security check posts have been put on alert by providing crash messages, the source said. (NNN)