Imphal: Joint security forces arrested four active insurgent cadres and recovered a substantial cache of arms, ammunition and communication equipment during coordinated operations carried out in Manipur’s Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts on Sunday.
According to Manipur Police, three alleged extortionists affiliated with the United National Liberation Front-Pambei (UNLF-P) were apprehended from the Keikhu area under Porompat Police Station in Imphal East district. The arrested individuals have been identified as Elangbam Tomba Singh (44), Patrick Golmei (44) and Athokpam Borish Singh (34).
In a separate operation conducted in the Andro area under Andro Police Station, security personnel arrested an active cadre of the Kangleipak Communist Party-Meeyamgi Fingang Lanmee (KCP-MFL), identified as Soram Manaoton Meitei (32). A scooter and a mobile phone were seized from his possession.
Meanwhile, another search operation in the Koubru hill range near Mangjol Village, under Gamnom Sapermeina Police Station in Kangpokpi district, led to the discovery of a suspected militant hideout.
During the operation, security forces recovered a large cache of weapons, including an INSAS rifle with a magazine, 24 single-barrel breech-loading (SBBL) guns, one double-barrel breech-loading (DBBL) gun, a country-made pistol, 12 locally made ‘Pompi’ guns, a locally fabricated hand grenade, 35 rounds of assorted ammunition and two walkie-talkie sets.
Police said all the arrested individuals, along with the seized arms and other materials, have been handed over to the respective police stations for further legal action. Investigations are underway to trace the source of the recovered weapons and identify any wider militant network linked to the case.