Manipur Police have arrested three suspects in connection with alleged extortion in Imphal, including a serving 1st Manipur Rifles Havildar from whose possession a loaded 9mm pistol was seized.
BY PC Bureau
September 19: Manipur Police have arrested three persons, including a serving Havildar of the 1st Manipur Rifles Battalion, for their alleged involvement in an extortion case in the Singjamei Wangma area of Imphal.
A team of CDO-Imphal West acted on specific information and arrested the three suspects from their respective residences.
The arrested persons have been identified as Okram Priyokumar Singh (40), alias Priyo, of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai; Waikhom Amarjit Singh (44), of Singjamei Wangma Pebiya Pandit Leikai; and Thongram Sunson Singh (34), alias Uttam, of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai.
Police said Amarjit Singh is a serving Havildar of the 1st Manipur Rifles Battalion. A 9mm pistol, along with a magazine containing four live rounds, was recovered from his possession during the operation.
The three suspects were arrested in connection with alleged extortion activities in the Singjamei Wangma area. Further investigation is underway.
Serving security personnel under scrutiny
The arrest comes amid a series of cases in which serving or former security personnel in Manipur have come under police scrutiny in recent months.
On April 13, 2026, security forces arrested Elangbam Surjit Singh, a Havildar attached to the Kakching Commando (CDO) unit, from Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai in Thoubal district. He was accused of having links with the Kangleipak Communist Party (Ibungo Ngangom faction). Police recovered a service pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition from him. Another person, Maibam Ronaldo, was also arrested in the case.
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In a separate case in late December 2025 and early January 2026, two Manipur Police Havildars were arrested in connection with the alleged unauthorised use of bulletproof vehicles.
Thounaojam Nilkamal Singh (30), a Havildar from Malom Tuliyaima Awang Leikai in Imphal West, was intercepted on December 30, 2025, at Andro Parking in Wangkhei, Imphal East, while allegedly driving an unregistered black bulletproof Scorpio S11.
On 17/09/2026, based on a reliable information, a team of CDO-Imphal West arrested three persons from their respective residences for their involvement in extortion at Singjamei Wangma area.
Details of the arrested individuals:
(i) Okram Priyokumar Singh (40 yrs) @ Priyo s/o… pic.twitter.com/bJtFdJHISI
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) September 17, 2026
The following day, Laishram Sanaton Meitei (41), another Havildar from Khurai Kongpal Ningthoubung Leikai in Imphal East, was also arrested in connection with the case.
Police said the possession and use of such bulletproof vehicles without the required registration and certification was unlawful.
Extortion networks remain a security concern
The latest arrests come amid continuing police operations against extortion networks in the Imphal Valley.
However, unlike several recent cases in the hill districts involving suspected cadres of underground organisations, police have not identified any underground outfit in connection with the September 17 Singjamei Wangma extortion case.
The involvement of a serving member of the 1st Manipur Rifles, if established in the course of investigation, adds another dimension to concerns over the use of state security personnel and firearms in criminal activities.
Police have not yet disclosed the alleged extortion amount, the intended victims or whether the three suspects were acting independently or as part of a larger network.
The investigation is continuing.
