Security forces carried out a series of search and area domination operations across different parts of Manipur over the last two days, leading to the arrest of two alleged cadres linked to banned militant outfits and the recovery of a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives, officials said on Sunday.
According to security officials, the operations were conducted in several vulnerable areas of the state as part of continued efforts to control insurgent activities and recover illegally held weapons.
In one operation conducted on Saturday, security forces arrested an active cadre of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party faction identified as Laishram Gopen Singh, also known by the alias Punshiba. The 40-year-old was apprehended from Tentha Mathak Leikai area in Thoubal district under the jurisdiction of Khongjom Police Station.
Officials said security personnel recovered a mobile phone, a bag and camouflage clothing, including uniforms and T-shirts, from his possession during the operation.
In another operation carried out on the same day, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the Langol hill range area under Lamphel Police Station in Imphal West district.
The recovered items included one INSAS rifle along with two magazines, one .303 rifle with a magazine, one single bore barrel, four bolt action rifles and 10 pistols with one magazine each. Security personnel also recovered five 38 mm anti-riot rubber shells, one detonator, four empty cartridges and five live rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition from the area.
On Friday, another active cadre linked to the banned KCP (MFL) group was arrested during a separate operation. The individual was identified as Huidrom Sunder Singh, also known by the aliases Sanathoi and Salai.
Officials said the 41-year-old was arrested from Sawombung Khunjao area under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East district. A mobile phone was seized from him during the operation.
In another recovery operation conducted on Friday at Ingel Hill in Tendongyang area under Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West district, security personnel recovered additional arms and explosives.
The recovered items included two single barrel guns, two .32 pistols, two No. 36 HE grenades and 99 rounds of ammunition of different calibres.
