: Monday, 08 December 2025 00:02 AM
Imphal. Security forces in Manipur have arrested 18 hard-core militants belonging to different outlawed extremist organizations from different districts during the last 24 hours. Besides, some arms and ammunition have also been recovered. Officials gave this information on Sunday. A senior official said the 18 hardcore cadres of different extremist groups belonged to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its wing Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the United Kuki National Army (UKNA). All of them were arrested from Bishnupur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Kakching districts.
Some small arms, hand grenades, several Aadhaar cards and several mobile phones were recovered from the arrested persons.
In a joint operation, security forces recovered some ammunition and other items from Imphal West district.
The recovered items included two single barrel guns, five pistols with one magazine, one air pistol, 11 magazines, five 12 bore barrel cartridges, 45 rounds of AK ammunition, three high power grenades, six detonators, five camouflage caps and one camouflage helmet.
Meanwhile, Manipur Police has registered five FIRs in five districts of Imphal Valley, namely Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching, in connection with the threats issued by rebel groups to the participants of Sumang Leela Association and other performers at the recently concluded Manipur Sangai Festival 2025.
An investigation is underway to identify the people involved and take necessary legal action against them. So far, four militants have been arrested in connection with these cases.
Police have assured that strict action will be taken against any attempt to intimidate or stop cultural activities and public events in the state.
After a gap of two years, the 10-day Sangai Tourism Festival took place from November 21 to 30 at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Sangai Tourism Festival, various groups of people displaced within the violence-hit country and several civil society organisations, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of several Meitei civil society organisations, had called for a strike and appealed to the people to boycott the festival and organized several protests. Had done.
These groups claimed that since the state government is organizing the annual Sangai Tourism Festival from November 21 to 30, it is believed that normalcy has returned to their areas, and hence, they should be allowed to return home instead of staying in relief camps.
Security forces are continuing a large-scale operation against the militants, including search operations and area domination drives in isolated, mixed-populated and vulnerable areas along the lines of the districts.
A total of 113 checkpoints/checkpoints have been set up in Manipur in both valley and hill districts to prevent illegal movement of enemy elements and suspicious vehicles.
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