Imphal: Personnel of the Assam Rifles apprehended an active cadre of the banned National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) along with arms and ammunition during an operation along the Manipur–Myanmar border, officials said on Saturday.
Based on intelligence inputs from across the border, the Assam Rifles launched “Operation Iron Wall,” which led to the arrest of a Manipur valley-based underground cadre.
The NRFM activist was later identified as Waikhom Athoi, also known as Sidaba, aged 28, a resident of Khabam Lamkhai under Heingang police station in Imphal East district.
He was apprehended from Pangal Basti in Moreh, near Border Pillar 79 under Moreh police station in Tengnoupal district, on January 21, 2026.
From his possession, security personnel recovered one nine millimetre pistol along with two magazines. They also seized thirty live rounds of nine millimetre ammunition along with one ammunition pouch.
In addition, one mobile phone with a SIM card was recovered from him. A wristwatch and a torchlight were also seized during the operation.
The report added that the arrested person, along with the seized items, was later handed over to the concerned police station for further legal proceedings.