Imphal: In a major crackdown on insurgent activities in Manipur, joint teams of central security forces and the Manipur Police dismantled two militant hideouts during coordinated operations conducted over the past 36 hours. The operations led to the arrest of a key militant and the recovery of a large cache of sophisticated firearms, explosives, ammunition and combat equipment.
The operation began in Thoubal district, where security personnel arrested an active cadre of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party-People’s War Group (KCP-PWG). The accused was identified as Kangabam Deni Singh, alias Bony (40), a resident of Langathel Keithel Macha. He was apprehended along the Inter Village Road (IVR) in the Langathel Khongjom area under the jurisdiction of Khongjom Police Station.
Acting on information obtained during his interrogation, the joint team launched a follow-up search operation at Wakha Ching under Porompat Police Station in Imphal East district. The raid resulted in the recovery of a substantial quantity of arms, explosives and military equipment.
The seized items included two .32 pistols, a 12-bore pump-action SBBL gun, a double-barrel gun and a single-barrel gun. Security personnel also recovered five No. 36 hand grenades, three grenade detonators, a Lathode shell, two 2-inch high-explosive mortar bombs and five tube launchers.
In addition, the team seized two .32 pistol magazines, 86 live rounds of ammunition, 20 barrel cartridges, nine empty 7.62 mm cartridge cases, military fatigues, jackets and combat boots.
Expanding the operation, security forces conducted another search in the foothills of Kumbi Setupur near Kumbi Sagolpat under Kumbi Police Station in Bishnupur district. During the operation, another hidden cache of arms and explosives was recovered.
The recoveries included an M-16 rifle with a magazine, a 9 mm pistol with a magazine, three SBBL guns, one Pompi, five Pompi bombs, four No. 36 high-explosive hand grenades, 32 live rounds of ammunition, three INSAS rifle magazines and several other items suspected to have been used by insurgent groups.
Security forces have stepped up surveillance across the region following the successful operations. Investigations are underway to identify other members of the banned outfit and trace the source of the recovered weapons and explosives.