Manipur: 22 militants arrested in joint operation

The Army, Assam Rifles and the local police have arrested 22 hardcore militants of different outfits and recovered six different types of arms, improvised explosive devices, a large cache of ammunition and other war-like stores from six Manipur districts in a series of operations.

The operations were conducted in the districts of Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Chandel, Thoubal, Imphal West and Imphal East, a defence spokesperson said.

The arrested militants belong to different factions of three outlawed outfits — Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the spokesperson said.

A police official said the security forces arrested a hardcore KCP militant, Mayengbam Amitab Singh alias Khaba (32), from Thoubal on Monday.

Preliminary investigations have established his active involvement in a case of firing at police personnel earlier and in another case of issuing threats to the employees of NIT Imphal, the official said. Pistols and other arms and ammunition were recovered from his possession.

Manipur is under President’s rule. At least 258 people have been killed and over a thousand people injured in the ethnic violence in the state between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei people since May 3, 2023. More than 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes and villages, They are staying in relief camps in different districts.