Imphal: Security forces arrested seven militants linked to different banned insurgent outfits in separate joint operations across Manipur over the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.
The operations were jointly carried out by the Manipur Police and other Central forces in Imphal West and Bishnupur districts. The arrested militants are allegedly associated with the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing, the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).
Militants Linked to Kidnapping, Extortion
According to a senior police official, the arrested militants were allegedly involved in various unlawful activities, including kidnapping, forcible collection of “subscriptions” and recruitment of youths for the banned outfits.
Security personnel recovered incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals, letterheads of the banned organisations and other materials from their possession.
The arrests came amid intensified counter-insurgency operations being conducted by security forces across the state.
Arms, Ammunition Recovered
During three separate joint operations in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, security forces also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.
The recovered items included 11 single-barrel breech-loading shotguns, six pistols, one anti-riot gun, 37 powerful 36 grenades, one white phosphorus grenade and an improvised explosive device weighing around 4.6 kg.
Security forces also recovered six empty magazines associated with SLR, INSAS and .303 rifles, 86 assorted rounds of ammunition, six anti-riot shells, 162 live rounds of ammunition of different calibres, 26 empty cases and two stun shells.
Other recovered items included a vehicular set, two handheld communication sets, military fatigues, a bulletproof iron plate, a bulletproof jacket cover, an ammunition charger and other miscellaneous materials.
Security Tightened Across Manipur
Meanwhile, the Central Armed Police Forces and Manipur Police have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations, including search operations and area domination exercises in fringe, mixed-population and other vulnerable areas across the state.
As part of the intensified security measures, 111 nakas and checkpoints have been established across the valley and hill districts to monitor the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.
Security forces are also providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).
Strict security arrangements and convoy protection remain in place along vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles.