Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal

Imphal, Aug 3: Eight militants, including two women cadres, belonging to different banned insurgent outfits were arrested and arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials recovered during separate joint security operations across Manipur, officials said on Monday.

A senior police official said the arrests were made from Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur districts during coordinated operations by the Manipur Police and other security agencies.

The arrested militants are allegedly linked to the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) along with its political wing, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF).

According to officials, the cadres were involved in various unlawful activities, including kidnapping and collection of "subscriptions", a term used by insurgent groups for extortion.

Security forces recovered incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals, letterheads of the banned outfits and other materials from their possession.

In separate operations, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from Ekok Pat near the Arong River under Thoubal Police Station in Thoubal district and from a forested area under Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal district, bordering Myanmar.

The seized items included two INSAS rifles, an MP-5 submachine gun, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), two .303 rifles, eight magazines, a smoke bomb and 379 rounds of live ammunition of different calibres.

Meanwhile, Manipur Police arrested an alleged drug peddler, identified as Arun Dutta (50) from Dibrugarh in Assam, at the Khullen Naka check-post in Senapati district. Police seized a car and eight soap cases containing 80 grams of brown sugar from his possession.

Security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Manipur Police personnel, continue to conduct counter-insurgency operations, search operations and area domination exercises in vulnerable areas across the state.

As part of the intensified security measures, 111 checkpoints and nakas have been established across valley and hill districts to monitor the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.

Authorities have also continued providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), with strict security arrangements in place along vulnerable stretches.