PLA operative nabbed in Guwahati hotel; used city as safe base, say police

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 20, 2025

In a significant counter-insurgency operation, Guwahati Police on Saturday arrested a suspected operative of the banned militant outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from a hotel in the heart of Paltan Bazar. The arrest comes amid continued unrest and militant activity in parts of Manipur.

The individual, identified as Mayanglambam Bobby Singh (31), son of Bimol Singh, is a resident of Thoubal district in Manipur. Authorities believe he played an active role in coordinating operations linked to the PLA’s insurgent network during the recent violence in the state.

According to police, the operation was launched following actionable intelligence provided by the Gajaraj Intelligence Unit of the Indian Army. Acting on the input, a joint team of Paltan Bazar Police, Basistha Police, and the Special Operation Group (SOG) East tracked Singh to a hotel in Paltan Bazar. He had been staying in the Beharbari area for some time and is suspected to have used Guwahati as a hideout.

While no weapons were found during the raid, police recovered several electronic devices and documents suspected to contain information related to militant activities and potential operatives. These are currently under forensic analysis.

Singh is being interrogated at Basistha Police Station, and officials said he will soon be handed over to Manipur Police for further investigation. Authorities are also probing whether he had links to any sleeper cells or support networks within Assam.

Police said the arrest is a major step toward dismantling cross-border militant activity and preventing further escalation in the region.