Two top militants of PLA arrested in Delhi

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Two top militants of the outlawed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur, who allegedly helped Maoists in training and by providing them arms, were arrested in the national capital, the police said.

"We have arrested two high-ranking militants of the banned organisation. They have helped Maoists in training and providing them arms," a senior police official said.

The arrested have been identified as Dileep, a self-styled captain of PLA, and Arun, who is his deputy, the official said. They were arrested from Lodhi Colony on October 2.

The sources said they came to Delhi on September 28 to meet their associates.

With this, Delhi Police has arrested 13 Maoists from the capital in the past three years.

According to the official, Dileep was responsible for external relations of the outfit.

The PLA was formed in 1978 comprising of ethnic groups such as Nagas, Kukis and Meiteis with the objective of liberating Manipur. PLA militants are equipped with sophisticated arms and involved in extortion and killings.

In January this year, Delhi Police had arrested a 28-year-old self-styled Lieutanant — Oinam Ibomcha Singh — of the banned outfit.

Singh had joined PLA in 1999-2000 and underwent training in handling of arms and ammunition in Myanmar in the camps of Maoists. His areas of operation were Delhi-Guwahati-Dimapur, police had then said.