Imphal: Joint security forces arrested two cadres of the Kangleipak Communist Party (City Meitei) and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Manipur.
In a separate incident, four detained farmers were released following a tense confrontation with the Assam Rifles.
A joint team of central and state forces arrested two active KCP (City Meitei) cadres, identified as Yaikhom Abhinash Meetei and Wahengbam Kiran Singh, and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, pistols, mortar shells and hand grenades, during operations conducted across Imphal East and Bishnupur districts.
During a separate operation conducted in an area between the northern side of Lamdan and Geljang under Loktak Police Station in Bishnupur district, security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle with two magazines, one DBBL gun, one country-made sniper rifle and three 9 mm pistols with magazines.
The recovered items also included one 51 HE mortar shell, two 36 HE hand grenades, one hand grenade with a tube launcher, anti-riot grenades, magazines, ammunition rounds of different calibres and other miscellaneous items.
Separately, four farmers from Hungpung village were detained by the 40 Assam Rifles on July 25 while they were working in paddy fields, triggering protests and road blockades by women from Sharkaphung village.
Following a high-level meeting between the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and Assam Rifles DIG Brigadier Amit Kumar Sharma, the four farmers were released safely on July 26.
However, the TNL strongly condemned the initial detention and alleged harassment by security personnel.