Manipur: Three insurgents, alleged drug trafficker held in security operations

Imphal: Security forces have arrested three active insurgents and an alleged drug trafficker in separate operations across Manipur over the past 24 hours, recovering extorted cash, mobile phones and 29 grams of suspected heroin, police officials said on Monday.

The arrests of the insurgents were made by the Commando unit of Imphal West (CDO-IW) in coordination with the Assam Rifles, while the alleged drug trafficker was detained during a search operation by Heingang Police Station.

Acting on intelligence inputs corroborated by the 31 Assam Rifles, a CDO-IW team conducted an operation in the Moidangpok area and arrested Thangjam Sanatomba Singh, alias Thembung, 26, an active cadre of the Communist Party-People’s War Group (PWG) and a resident of Moidangpok Makha Leikai.

In a separate operation based on information shared by the 33 Assam Rifles, commandos raided a residence at Takyel Khongbal Leirak Achouba and arrested Sanjenbam Albert Meetei, alias Lukhoi, 26, an active member of the Kangleipak Communist Party – Apunba (KCP-Apunba) faction. He was reportedly operating an extortion racket in the locality.

A third joint operation by the CDO-IW and 33 Assam Rifles was conducted in the Patsoi Unik-Khong Bazar area, where security forces arrested Khongbantabam Inao Singh, alias Iboyaima, 48, an active member of People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (PREPAK-PRO).

Investigators found him to be involved in recent extortion activities, while Rs 18,500 in cash and a mobile handset were recovered from his possession, police said.

Separately, a team from Heingang Police Station conducted a house-to-house cordon and search operation at rented apartments near the Mantripukhri Mandir. During the operation, police detained Md. Abdul Rahaman, 31, originally from Borayangbi Ward No. III in Bishnupur district and currently residing at Mantripukhri Bazar.

Police said 29 grams of suspected Heroin No. 4 was seized from his possession.

All four individuals have been booked under relevant sections of the law, and further investigations are underway to trace their operational networks and financial linkages.