Guwahati, Oct. 10: The arrested self-styled finance secretary of the banned Manipuri rebel outfit, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), has named several government officials and businessmen of Manipur who regularly paid the outfit in the city.

A police source said the KCP members were involved in several extortion cases at Dimapur in Nagaland and at Hojai in Assam’s Nagaon district.

During interrogation, Manglemjo Metei, the finance secretary, said nearly 300 members of the Laba faction of KCP are undergoing arms training in Myanmar.

Metei was arrested from his rented house at Tribeni Path in Chandan Nagar under the Dispur police station on Friday.

“During interrogation, Metei said he had served extortion notes on several government officials through intermediaries and the officials were instructed to pay the money in the city,” said a police source. “After collections, the money used to be handed over to Metei in the city,” he added.

“The government officials are reluctant to pay the extortion money in Manipur, as they may come under the scanner of the security forces. Therefore, they have selected Guwahati, as they will not be easily recognised there,” the police source said.

City police have informed their Manipur counterparts about the developments.

Metei told the police that the money was never collected forcibly. He described the collections as “voluntary contributions” made by KCP sympathisers.

“Metei, 53, was staying with his second wife at a rented house in Japorigog area of the city before shifting to his Triveni Path address. He had recently visited Chennai for treatment at the Apollo Hospital and had returned to the city only about a week back,” said the police official.

The other arrested members include Gopal Singh, 23, of Lansiang area of Imphal district, Kanak Basumatary, 27, of Sarupathar in Assam’s Golaghat district, Rosmi Devi, 19, Naotombi Devi, 18, and Thoy Devi, 19, all from Sugnu in Manipur’s Thoubal district.

Basumataryused to drive an autorickshaw in Dimapur before he came in touch with Metei.The rebels have been booked under Sections 120 (B), 121, 121 (A), 384 of the IPC with Section 10/13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. A case has been registered at Dispur police station.