Imphal: Security forces arrested three insurgents from separate underground outfits and recovered substantial military weaponry during operations across Manipur over the past 48 hours, police said on Saturday.
In the first operation, security forces arrested an active cadre of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), identified as Chanambam Henba Singh, alias Lanchenba (21), a resident of Iroisemba Mang Hiden, Imphal West. He was apprehended in the Tera Lukram Leirak area under the jurisdiction of Lamphel Police Station.
In a second operation, a cadre of the proscribed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (PREPAK-PRO), identified as Ningthoujam Kennedy (41), alias Guli/Angousana, was captured from Khewa Bazar.
A third operation led to the apprehension of a cadre belonging to the banned United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), identified as Khoisnam Morendrajit Singh, alias Kumar (42), from the Malom Tulihal Makha Leikai area near Imphal airport.
Furthermore, security forces recovered an arsenal from the Chingkhei Ching foothill area in Imphal East. The cache included a .303 rifle with a magazine, a .22 rifle, and a 9mm SMG carbine with magazine. They also found two No. 36 hand grenades, one improvised bomb, and a WP No. 80 MK-1 grenade.
In addition, 57 rounds of live ammunition of various calibers were seized, along with three Lethod shells, two SLR empty cases, and multiple magazines for INSAS, SLR, and pistols. The recovery also included two tube launchers and two .303 charger clips.
In a final operation, security forces seized a significant arms cache from the Keirak Awang Loukon Chingol area in southern Kakching district.
The seizure included an Amogh carbine, two locally made Lathode guns, two single-barrel guns, seven tear-smoke shells, three tube-launching devices, and two .36 HE grenades with detonators, along with 50 rounds of ammunition and 100 empty cases.