In a major counter-insurgency operation, security forces arrested two active cadres of different proscribed outfits and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from various parts of Manipur in the last 24 hours.

On Monday, an active cadre of the proscribed outfit United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) was apprehended from Pebiya Pandit Leikai near Meira Shang under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East district. The arrested individual has been identified as Ningombam Ajitkumar Singh alias Khagemba (49), a resident of Singjamei Makha Khongnang Pheidekpi under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West. He was reportedly involved in extortion activities targeting the public as well as private educational institutions in the Imphal area. One two-wheeler and a mobile phone were seized from his possession.

In a separate operation, another active cadre of the proscribed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Thokchom Ningthem Meitei alias Lingjen (48), was arrested from Keirao Wangkhem village near the TB Hospital, also under Irilbung Police Station. Both individuals were handed over to the respective police stations for further legal action.

Meanwhile, based on intelligence inputs about the presence of arms and ammunition at the hideouts of armed miscreants in vulnerable areas along the hill-valley fringe, joint teams of State and Central forces conducted extensive search operations across several sensitive locations.

In Imphal East’s Keirao Wangkhem village and adjoining foothills of the Ngariyan hill range, forces recovered a significant cache, including one .303 Light Machine Gun (LMG) with magazine, one .303 sniper rifle, one 7.62 SLR rifle with two magazines, two 9mm pistols with magazines, a 12-bore single barrel gun, five SMG carbine magazines, one INSAS LMG magazine, hand grenades, explosives, and a large quantity of live ammunition and empty shells. Several anti-riot devices including tear gas guns, stun grenades, and launching tubes were also seized along with tactical equipment such as bulletproof helmets and jackets.

In Churachandpur district, during a separate search operation from Thangjing Hill to Nalon village under the jurisdiction of Churachandpur Police Station, security personnel recovered two .303 rifles with magazines, one AK-47 rifle with magazine, a 12-bore SBBL gun, two rockets (8 and 5 feet), tactical gear including BP jackets and helmets, five country-made mortar bombs, one wireless set, and various explosive materials.

Additionally, in the track area between N. Boljang and Zero Point in Kangpokpi district, troops recovered a 5.56mm INSAS rifle with magazine, a .22 pistol with two magazines, a bolt action rifle, a short-range projectile launcher, five improvised mortars, five pull-mechanism rifles, and 10 mortar bombs.

All recovered weapons and warlike stores have been handed over to the concerned police stations for further necessary action, according to police reports.