In a significant development, Manipur police have apprehended Khundongbam Ojit Singh, a suspected member of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA), in connection with the recent ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy. The arrest was made during a joint operation conducted by the Imphal West and Bishnupur district police, along with the 33 Assam Rifles and other security forces, in the Kameng area of Imphal West district.

The ambush, which took place on September 19 in the Nambol Sabal Leikai area of Bishnupur district, resulted in the death of two Assam Rifles jawans and injuries to five others. The attack sparked security concerns, especially since it occurred in an area recently denotified from regions under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

According to the Manipur Police, Khundongbam Ojit Singh, also known as Keilal, admitted to being a member of the proscribed People's Liberation Army (PLA) during questioning. He confessed to his direct involvement in the September 19 attack on the Assam Rifles personnel. Singh had been previously arrested in April 2007 and was out on bail. Police said that he continued to work for the PLA until his recent arrest.

Following Singh's confession, security forces launched a search operation based on his information. The search led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition from a secret location near Loktak Lake. The recovered items included an A4 rifle, an HK rifle, two AK rifles, an INSAS rifle, several magazines, lathode shells, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. A mobile phone, wallet, and Aadhaar card were also seized.

The arrest of Khundongbam Ojit Singh is considered a major breakthrough in the investigation of the ambush. Police have confirmed that further interrogation is underway, and raids are continuing to track down other individuals involved in the attack. The police had earlier detained two individuals in connection with the attack. A silver-blue van, believed to have been used during the attack, was also seized from Mutum Yangbi in Imphal West.

The Assam Rifles team was reportedly returning from flood relief operations in the Imphal valley when their convoy was ambushed along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway-2 in Bishnupur. The attack drew strong condemnation from various sections of society, with people taking to the streets to protest against the violence. Security forces have launched combing operations to apprehend those involved in the attack.