Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal
Imphal, Aug 30: Security forces in Manipur have arrested seven militants, including a woman cadre, belonging to various banned outfits during separate joint operations across four districts in the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.
The operations were conducted by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and other Central security forces in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Kakching districts.
The arrested militants are affiliated with the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).
According to a police official, the arrested cadres were allegedly involved in various crimes and illegal activities, including attacks on people, kidnapping, forcible collection of “subscriptions” and recruitment of youths into banned outfits.
Among those arrested was an active woman cadre of the KCP (People's War Group), apprehended by a joint team of security forces in Thoubal district. She was identified as Laishram Abem Devi (37).
Arms and ammunition recovered
In a separate joint operation in Bishnupur district, police and other security forces recovered a substantial cache of arms, ammunition and explosives.
The recovered items included:
One 9 mm pistol with a magazine
One .32 pistol with a magazine
One country-made AK rifle with a magazine
One country-made MP-9 with a magazine
One country-made SBBL gun
One country-made .22 rifle with a magazine
Two 36-hand grenades
Two improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
A large quantity of ammunition of various calibres
Other accessories
Two drug peddlers held
Meanwhile, the Manipur Police arrested two alleged drug peddlers during routine frisking and checking in the Sericulture Training Centre area.
The accused were identified as Amir Khan (34) and Md. Bungo (33).
Police seized five soap cases containing around 53 grams of heroin from their possession. A two-wheeler allegedly used by the accused was also seized, the official said.
Security tightened across state
Security forces comprising the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Manipur Police have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations across the state, including search operations and area-domination exercises in fringe, mixed-population and other vulnerable areas.
As part of intensified security measures, 111 nakas and checkpoints have been established across the valley and hill districts to monitor the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.
Security forces are also providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles transporting essential commodities along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).
Strict security arrangements and convoy protection remain in place along vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles, officials said.