The banned United National Liberation Front, a Manipur-based insurgent group, on Wednesday suffered a a major setback as the police arrested its general secretary Marjit Singh alias Thobal alias Ibuyama along with three other Manipuri militants from a hideout in the heart of Guwahati.

The operation was carried out by a special commando team of Manipur police in coordination with Assam police.

Police also recovered a huge amount of cash, laptop computers and several incriminating documents from the possession of the UNLF leader.

Police suspected that one of the arrested militants might be a senior leader from People's Liberation Army, another militant group from Manipur.

The UNLF general secretary is one of top five most wanted militant leaders from the North-East.

Police said he was remote controlling extortion operations operation in Manipur from Guwahati.

The bustling and populous Guwahati city has become a den for many Manipuri insurgent leaders of late. Four other PLA ultras were arrested in the city last month.

Meanwhile, Assam police on Tuesday busted the general headquarters of Adivasi Strong Lion Force, a newly-formed Adivasi tribal militant group, in the remote areas of Kokrajhar district in western Assam.

Police arrested the self-styled commander in chief of the outfit, besides recovering a few hand-made guns and a gun manufacturing device besides ammunition, explosives and some money receipts.