Imphal: Security forces have arrested nine insurgents belonging to different banned outfits and dismantled two camps in coordinated operations across the state’s valley districts over the past 48 hours.
According to a Manipur Police morning bulletin, five cadres of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the banned Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), were apprehended during operations in Imphal West, Imphal East and Thoubal districts.
The arrested persons were identified as Moirangthem Jenyson Singh (26), Longjam Yaiphaba Angom (30), Thingom Mahenjit Singh (22), Ngangbam Derick Singh (20), and Chingakham Rocky Singh (38).
In a separate operation in Imphal West district, three members of the outlawed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) — Thokchom Raj Singh (25), Nahakpam Sibananda Singh (32) and Deviya Mongjam Devi (29) were taken into custody.
A cadre of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), identified as Prithibiraj Moirangthem (26), was also arrested from a hideout at Khongma Zone-III in Imphal East district.
Based on information obtained during interrogation, security personnel launched follow-up operations in the Kakching Khunou Pamchou hill range, particularly in the Pamchou Lamkhai area under Waikhong Police Station in Kakching district, leading to the recovery of a cache of arms and explosives.
Among the items seized were an AK-56 rifle with a magazine loaded with 10 live rounds and a bayonet, two single-barrel breech-loading (SBBL) guns, a double-barrel breech-loading (DBBL) gun, a .32 pistol with five live rounds, two No. 36 hand grenades, three Emuldyne Class-2 explosives and three detonators. Security forces also recovered 256 live rounds of .303 ammunition, 48 empty cases of 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition, three stun shells, a tear smoke grenade, a Baofeng handset, a camouflage helmet and a gunny bag.
In another operation in the Lairou Ching area under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East district, forces seized an AK-56 rifle, a .303 rifle, three single-barrel guns, two AK magazines, two HE No. 36 hand grenades and a 51 mm mortar bomb. The recovery also included 46 live rounds of ammunition of various calibres, 20 empty .303 cases, a Kenwood handset and an MP5 holographic sight.