Imphal: Security forces arrested six militants belonging to different banned outfits during joint operations across Manipur and recovered arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials, officials said on Thursday.

The operations were carried out over the past 24 hours in Kakching, Imphal West and Thoubal districts by the Manipur Police and Central forces, including the Assam Rifles.

The arrested militants are allegedly associated with banned outfits including the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and United Kuki National Army (UKNA).

Militants Linked to Kidnapping, Extortion

According to police, the arrested militants were allegedly involved in activities including kidnapping, forcible collection of “subscriptions” and recruitment of youths for banned organisations.

Security personnel recovered incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals, letterheads of banned outfits and other materials from their possession.

Two UKNA militants were allegedly found with an AK-series rifle and magazine, 12 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, a 9 mm pistol with magazine, a Baofeng radio set and a Royal Enfield motorcycle.

Arms Cache Recovered in Senapati

In a separate operation in tribal-dominated Senapati district, security forces recovered five single-barrel breech-loading guns, a 9 mm pistol, two Chinese hand grenades, 13 rounds of ammunition of different calibres and 33 empty cartridges.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another accused on Wednesday in connection with an alleged IED attack on a residential house in Bishnupur district.

The attack took place at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang on April 7 and killed two minor children and seriously injured their mother.

NIA Arrests Suspected UKNA Finance Head

The NIA-arrested accused was identified as S Palal Kuki, a resident of Old Gelmol village in Churachandpur district. Police alleged that he was involved in subversive and terrorist activities.

According to a Manipur Police official, Kuki admitted during questioning that he was the self-styled finance head of the UKNA outfit.

Security forces comprising Central Armed Police Forces and Manipur Police have continued counter-insurgency and area-domination operations across vulnerable areas of the state.

As part of the security measures, 111 checkpoints and nakas have been established across the valley and hill districts. Security personnel are also providing armed escorts to vehicles carrying essential commodities along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).