Manipur: 9 militants arrested, 6 IEDs destroyed in 24-hour crackdown
Synopsis
In one of Manipur's more sweeping single-day security actions, forces arrested nine militants from five different banned outfits, dismantled six IEDs near the Myanmar border, and recovered pistols, grenades, and radio sets — all within 24 hours. The Moreh forest find, just kilometres from an unfenced international boundary, underscores how porous that frontier remains for arms supply chains.
Key Takeaways
Nine militants from five banned outfits — KCP, PLA, RPF, NSCN-K and PREPAK — were arrested across six districts of Manipur on 2 August .
A separate arms recovery in Tengnoupal district yielded a 9 mm pistol , a double-barrel gun, two hand grenades , six radio sets, and six IEDs .
All six IEDs were safely destroyed on the spot by the bomb disposal team.
DGP Mukesh Singh inspected the 134-year-old 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles and discussed modernisation plans.
A total of 111 nakas and checkpoints are currently operational across Manipur's valley and hill districts.
Security escorts remain active on Imphal-Jiribam NH-37 for essential commodity convoys.
Security forces in Manipur arrested nine militants belonging to multiple banned insurgent outfits and neutralised six Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during intelligence-based operations conducted over a 24-hour period ending Sunday, 2 August, officials said. The coordinated crackdown spanned six districts and also yielded a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and incriminating materials.
Who Was Arrested and Where
According to a senior police official, the nine militants were apprehended across Thoubal, Tamenglong, Kakching, Chandel, Imphal West and Imphal East districts in joint operations by the Manipur Police and other security agencies. The arrested individuals reportedly belong to the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), the People's Liberation Army (PLA), its political wing the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), and the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
Police said the insurgents were allegedly involved in kidnapping and the forcible collection of 'subscriptions' — a term commonly used as a euphemism for extortion by militant groups operating in the region. Seized materials included incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals, letterheads of banned outfits, and Baofeng communication handsets.
Arms Cache and IED Destruction in Tengnoupal
In a separate joint operation, security forces recovered a cache of weapons from a forest area under Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal district, which shares an unfenced international border with Myanmar. The haul included one 9 mm pistol, one double-barrel gun, six radio sets, two hand grenades, and six IEDs. The bomb disposal team safely destroyed the IEDs on the spot following standard operating procedures.
Notably, Moreh's proximity to the Myanmar border has long made it a flashpoint for arms smuggling and militant resupply routes. This is among the more significant arms recoveries from the district in recent months.
DGP Reviews Historic Manipur Rifles Battalion
Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, accompanied by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) in charge of Law and Order and Intelligence, visited the 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles in Imphal — one of the state's oldest battalions with a legacy of 134 years, raised in 1892. During the visit, the DGP was briefed on the battalion's history and evolution. He inspected facilities including the Quarter Guard, Parade Ground, Transport Wing, and heritage structures, and discussed revamping plans, deployment protocols, and compliance mechanisms with officers.
Wider Security Posture Across the State
Security forces comprising both Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Manipur Police have maintained extensive counter-insurgency operations, including search operations and area domination exercises, across fringe, mixed-population, and other vulnerable zones. A total of 111 nakas and checkpoints have been established across valley and hill districts to curb militant movement and intercept suspicious vehicles.
Escorts continue to be provided to convoys, including trucks carrying essential commodities, along the strategically vital Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37). The Manipur Police have also urged citizens not to circulate or believe unverified information and fake videos spreading on social media platforms.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the Moreh forest arms cache — a location that recurs in security dispatches precisely because the unfenced Myanmar border is structurally impossible to fully seal. Arresting militants from five distinct outfits in a single day points to improved inter-agency intelligence sharing, yet the persistent extortion networks these groups run suggest that arrests alone are not dismantling their financial infrastructure. The DGP's visit to the 1892-era Manipur Rifles battalion, framed as a heritage review, also signals an institutional push to professionalise units that have operated under sustained pressure during the state's prolonged ethnic conflict. Whether these tactical gains translate into durable stability depends on political resolution — something no number of nakas can substitute for.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the militants arrested in Manipur on 2 August?
Nine militants belonging to five banned outfits — the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People's Liberation Army (PLA), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) — were arrested across six districts of Manipur. They were allegedly involved in kidnapping and extortion activities.
Where were the IEDs found and how were they neutralised?
The six IEDs were recovered from a forest area under Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal district, which borders Myanmar. The bomb disposal team destroyed all six devices on the spot following standard operating procedures.
What other weapons were recovered in the Manipur operation?
Along with the six IEDs, security forces recovered one 9 mm pistol, one double-barrel gun, six radio sets, and two hand grenades from the forest area in Tengnoupal district near the Myanmar border.
What is the current security situation in Manipur?
Security forces have deployed 111 nakas and checkpoints across valley and hill districts, and are conducting ongoing counter-insurgency, search, and area domination operations. Convoys on the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) are being provided armed escorts to ensure safe movement of essential goods.
What is the significance of the 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles visited by the DGP?
The 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles, raised in 1892, is one of the oldest police battalions in Manipur with a 134-year legacy. DGP Mukesh Singh's visit focused on reviewing facilities and discussing modernisation, deployment protocols, and compliance mechanisms to align the historic unit with contemporary policing requirements.
