Manipuri separatist leader Meghen nabbed in Bihar

IMPHAL - One of Indias most wanted separatist leaders, Rajkumar Meghen, chief of the outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in Manipur, has been arrested, police said Wednesday.

Sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday arrested Meghen from near Motihari in Bihars East Champaran district when the rebel leader was trying to cross over to Nepal.

“With Meghen’s arrest, almost all the top brass of the UNLF barring just one or two are in jail,” a senior Manipur police official said.

The 63-year-old Meghen was then taken to New Delhi on transit remand and is being brought to Assams main city of Guwahati by the NIA in a day or two to face cases pending in the city.

There were media reports saying Meghen was captured in Bangladesh and then handed over to Indian authorities Sep 29, although there was no official confirmation until arrest Tuesday.

We are relieved to hear about my fathers whereabouts and now we will try and give him legal support, Meghens son Mei Chinglen said.

Meghen, alias Sanajaima, had been based in Bangladesh for a long time.

Meghen was sought by the Interpol with red corner notices served against him with criminal charges ranging from murder to kidnappings and robberies.

The UNLF is the most influential of the nearly 19 odd rebel armies in Manipur with the outfit, since its inception in 1964, fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community in a state of 2.4 million people.

Although the NIA has claimed Meghen was arrested in Bihar Tuesday, there are still doubts expressed that the rebel leader could have been in the custody of the Indian government after he was handed over by Bangladesh in late September after he was captured in that country.

Dhaka had handed over at least 20 top northeast militant leaders and their families to India after capturing them in Bangladesh.