The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Imphal-born Rajkumar Mypaksana (21), an accused in the Manipur riots case, in Thalassery disguised as a health worker. Rajkumar worked in a hotel in Thalassery and lived nearby. Claiming that he had come as part of a survey to prevent monsoon diseases, the NIA officials went into every room where the workers were staying and demanded their identity cards. Rajkumar was taken into custody after his Aadhaar card and photograph were verified. On learning that he had been arrested, Rajkumar complied with the officers’ instructions without changing his expression.
The hotel management had advertised for labourers on social media weeks ago. Most of the workers appointed were from Manipur. Rajkumar contacted the hotel authorities four days ago and asked for a job. He said he got in touch after seeing the advertisement from Bengaluru. He was told that the job was for a housekeeper and that the wages were also fixed. He arrived in Thalassery, gave his Aadhaar details and worked well for three days.
The NIA has also reportedly seized a fake passport from Rajkumar. He had tried to use it to leave the country from Tirur in Malappuram district but had failed. In the meantime, the advertisement for a hotel job caught his attention and he moved to Thalassery.
The accused in the two-year-long violence in Manipur was arrested by the NIA after months of investigation without giving even the slightest information to the Kerala police. He arrived in Kerala last month after travelling to different districts and then reached Tirur and then Thalassery. Rajkumar is said to have received armed training from the banned organisation United National Liberation Front (UNLF). The special tattoo on his neck below the ear made it easy for the NIA to identify him. The NIA had been monitoring Rajkumar’s movements for the past few days. The arrest was registered in a case filed in Imphal on Friday.
