PLA militant arrested while trying to cross over to Bangladesh

The self-styled Lieutenant of the Manipur outfit was identified as Athokpam Surchandra Singh and is currently the area secretary of Imphal (West) division, sources said.

Singh was apprehended by the BSF last night while he was trying to cross over to Bangladesh from Dawki area, BSF officials said.

During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the 43-year-old Singh had joined PLA in 1993.

He admitted to have been involved in organisational work for the PLA in Bangladesh and had entered India last December, the BSF said.

The BSF recovered Rs 8,735 and a mobile phone from Singh's possession.

Meanwhile, the BSF also seized 122 bottles of Genosidyl (another brand of Phensedyl cough syrup) besides other seizures along the border in Jaintia Hills district of the state.

The 433 km-long international border with Bangladesh in Meghalaya is often considered by NE militant groups as a safe passage to Bangladesh considering that majority of the stretch is unfenced, has rough terrain and difficult to man.