Manipur Police Crack Down on Militant Networks: Four Arrests Yield Arms Cache Amid Rising Tensions

In a series of targeted operations, Manipur police have detained three insurgents affiliated with outlawed groups and one arms supplier, officials announced Sunday, underscoring ongoing efforts to curb insurgent activities in the restive state.

The arms trafficker, a 33-year-old resident named Phijam Chetanjit Singh, was apprehended Friday near his home in Yurembam, within Imphal West district. Authorities recovered a self-loading rifle equipped with two magazines and 96 rounds of assorted ammunition from his possession, according to a police release.

Separately, two members of the proscribed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) were captured the same day in Tronglaobi, Bishnupur district. Identified as Thokchom Manimatum Singh, 20, and Laishram Premsagar Singh, 24, the pair had been engaged in systematic extortion targeting local residents, commercial establishments, and educational institutions, the statement detailed.

In a third incident, police took into custody Adhikarimayum Ramkumar Sharma, 62, a member of the banned People’s Liberation Army, from Kongba in Imphal East district. The arrests reflect heightened vigilance amid persistent security challenges in the region.

No further details on potential links between the suspects or additional charges were immediately disclosed, but the seizures highlight the persistent threat posed by underground networks in Manipur.