In a significant crackdown on insurgency, security forces in Manipur arrested seven active militants during coordinated operations from February 1 to 7. The Indian Army’s Spear Corps, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police targeted districts including Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur, and Pherzawl based on precise intelligence.
The operations yielded a massive haul of 18 weapons, explosives, and war-like stores. On February 1, Assam Rifles and Thoubal Police commandos nabbed a Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) cadre in Mayang Imphal, seizing a smartphone and SIM card.
February 2 saw a major breakthrough near Tonglhang village, where forces uncovered a militant hideout stocked with an AK-47, two pistols, two single-barrel rifles, three radio sets, 18 IEDs, ammunition, and more. All IEDs were neutralized on-site following safety protocols. That same day, two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) militants were arrested in Kakwa and Lambel areas with mobiles, SIMs, and documents.
On February 3, searches near Loktak Lake’s Phubala village uncovered a 9mm carbine, pistols, a .32 bore pistol, rifle grenades, lathode bombs, live cartridges, and a sniper scope. In Lambel, Imphal West, troops recovered a bolt-action rifle, seven pistols, 64 live rounds, a hand grenade, and other gear. Near the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal’s T’Minow, forces foiled an ambush, seizing an AK-56, M4 rifle, and ammo.
Subsequent arrests included a People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive) member on February 5 in Imphal East’s Pungdongbam, a United National Liberation Front (Koireng) cadre on February 6 in Singjamei, and two PREPAK (Progressive) militants on February 7 along Andro-Wangkhem-Irilbung road and Senjam Khunou, Imphal West, with phones and SIMs.
These intelligence-driven sweeps mark a major blow to militant networks, bolstering security in the region. Officials affirmed that joint operations will persist to uphold peace and order in Manipur.