Imphal: Security forces recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives and arrested two active cadres of the banned RPF/PLA outfit during coordinated operations in Manipur’s Imphal West, Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, police said.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the Imphal West Commando (CDO-IW) and 33rd Assam Rifles conducted a search operation along the Phayeng Apun Lok riverbank under Lamshang Police Station on August 26. The operation resulted in the seizure of a Carbine Machine Gun (CMG) with a magazine, a modified .303 rifle with a magazine, seven pistols with magazines, five single-barrel guns, one double-barrel gun, and two hand grenades.
In Churachandpur district, security forces recovered another weapons cache during an area domination operation in the Nepali Basti area near Maovom village under Churachandpur Police Station. The seized items included an MP-09 submachine gun, a single-barrel gun, a functional rocket, a locally made mortar (pompi), eight rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, two land mines, a mortar bomb, four detonators and an improvised fragmentation mine, along with other materials.
Meanwhile, a CDO team from Imphal East arrested 30-year-old Ningthoujam Samson Singh, an alleged extortionist and active cadre of the RPF/PLA, in the Ngaikhong Khunou area of Bishnupur district. Police said the arrest was made on the basis of specific intelligence inputs corroborated by the 19th Garhwal Rifles and 31st Assam Rifles as part of ongoing anti-extortion operations.
In a separate operation, Manipur Police arrested another alleged active RPF/PLA cadre from his residence. The accused was identified as 46-year-old Lourembam Subhaschandra, alias Thouba and Naochabi, a resident of Singjamei Chinga Mathak Nameirakpam Leikai under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West district.
The operations form part of continued security efforts targeting insurgent networks, illegal arms caches and extortion activities across Manipur.