Imphal: Security forces have arrested five hardcore militants, including three women, from the Thoubal and Imphal East districts of Manipur, the police said on Saturday. They belonged to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) and PREPAK (PRO) outfits.
The police said that four active cadres of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) were arrested from Langthabal Khunou in Thoubal. They have been identified as Konjengbam Babita (45), Lisham Premika Devi (33), Nandeibam Noni Devi (53) and Heikham Ravi Meitei (38).
In another operation, an active PREPAK (PRO) cadre named Chabungbam Kenedy Singh (21), was arrested from Soibam Leikai in Imphal East.
According to authorities, these militants were engaged in extortion and the recruitment to strengthen their outfits. Manipur witnessed extreme violence for nearly two years from 2023. Ethnic clashes between the Valley-based Meiteis and Kuki-Zos from the Hill districts left nearly 250 people dead and thousands homeless. Property worth crores was destroyed.
It was after the imposition of President’s Rule in the state in February this year that security forces launched a major clampdown, arresting those involved in the violence and seizing weapons, including those looted from police armouries.
On Thursday, security forces carried out a search at Ngariyan Chingyang in Imphal East and recovered arms and ammunition. The seizure included an INSAS light machine gun, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) magazine, a 12-bore double-barrel gun, and 47 cartridges.
On Independence Day, governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said security forces are carrying out operations continuously in the fringe and vulnerable areas to curb extortion-related activities. Over 3,000 firearms have been seized in the past six months, the governor said.