The police in Manipur have launched a massive search for a senior IAS officer, who has apparently 'surrendered' to a militant outfit following an ultimatum to him to come clean on corruption charges.

The proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup had issued a diktat to I S Laishram, revenue commissioner, to surrender to the outfit by September 10, and face 'trial' for alleged corruption during his tenure as education commissioner.

The police launched the manhunt after the outfit announced in the local newspapers that Liashram had surrendered to it on August 30. It said the investigation into the corruption charges against him would continue till September 6.

Announcing this to the people in a statement, KYKL said that Laishram was found guilty of taking bribes from college teachers promising them to upgrade them to UGC grade salaries.

Laishram, who holds additional charge of the minor irrigation, inquiry and information and public relations departments, has been accused of taking bribes of Rs 30,000 each from college teachers aspiring for UGC pay scales.

Two officials of the higher education department -- College Development Officer S Ibohal and Upper Division Clerk Naorem Selungbam -- are facing similar allegations.

The KYKL has asked both to take voluntary retirement.

The KYKL, which projects itself as a militant group with a conscience and social responsibilities, has been conducting a campaign codenamed 'Operation New Kangleipak' to rid the education department of all ills.

Last year, the KYKL had passed 'death sentences' on three officials and a minister for 'indulging in corruption'. These sentences were later withdrawn.

IAS officers posted in the state met on Tuesday to devise a strategy to counter the militant diktats. A senior police official said it was a 'shame' that an IAS officer had surrendered to a banned militant group. "A case has been registered against Laishram for his conduct," he said.

The police are planning to raid known hideouts of the KYKL in a bid to trace Laishram, who was a Manipur Civil Services officer till he was nominated to the IAS recently.

Though militants have long been intimidating people into doing their bidding, Laishram is the first IAS officer in Manipur to have obeyed a diktat to surrender to a banned outfit.