UNLF leader arrested; lodged in Central Prison

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Sep 5 (UNI) The outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) General Secretary Ibotomby (55) and his assistant Salam Bunk (30) were arrested here today and produced before a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody.

Police said Ibotomby and Bunk were arrested when the former, a leader of the UNLF in Manipur, was about to be discharged after spinal cord surgery at the Ganga Hospital here.

The eighth judicial magistrate court judge Ms Sujatha remanded them. Ibotomby was subsequently lodged in the Central Prison here.

The duo were identified after their mobile phone calls were intercepted by the army and found to be suspicious. Subsequently, their photos were taken using cell phones, without their knowledge, and sent to Manipur police to confirm their identity.

The latter identified them and notified Coimbatore police that there was a criminal case against Ibotomby at Imphal.

Three persons said to be students, were frequently visiting the hospital and enquiring about Ibotomby's health.

A cell phone, lap top and Rs 35,000, besides clothes were seized.

Talking to newspersons here, S Rajasekaran, Director, Ganga Hospital said Ibotomby underwent spinal cord surgery on August 30 for severe back pain.

Dr Rajasekaran said he was told on August 22 by the patient that doctors in Bangalore had referred him to Ganga hospital. He came to know of his identity only when an army Major enquired about his health and asked him to get Ibotomby's cell phone number.

He said police and army asked him to continue the treatment till they get a response from the Manipur police. Ibotomby had given his address as 'Wangkang, Ayang Bali, Imphal East, Manipur', he added.

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