Imphal, April 8 (NationPress) Following a horrific bombing in Manipur's Bishnupur district that tragically took the lives of two innocent children and injured their mother, security forces conducted a coordinated operation and apprehended three militants associated with the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) in the adjacent Churachandpur district on Wednesday, according to officials.

The apprehended militants have been named as Jampao Kuki, Sasang, and Paulallem Vaiphai. During the operation, security personnel confiscated a significant stockpile of weapons and ammunition from the UKNA members.

The confiscated arsenal consisted of one AK-47 rifle complete with a magazine and 25 rounds of ammunition, one pistol along with two magazines and 15 rounds, cash totaling Rs 20,100, and two bags containing narcotic substances, specifically raw opium, weighing an aggregate of 21.19 kg.

In further operations executed within the Molphei Tampak region of Churachandpur district, security forces uncovered additional weaponry, including an MP-9 automatic rifle, another pistol with a magazine, two Lethode tubes, a locally fabricated cannon known as Pumpi, and five 70 mm cartridges.

This violence erupted following a devastating incident early Tuesday morning, around 1 a.m., when a powerful bomb, allegedly detonated by suspected Kuki militants, struck a residence in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai village in Bishnupur district.

A five-year-old boy and his five-month-old sister were killed immediately by the explosion, while their mother suffered injuries. At the time of the attack, the family was reportedly asleep, and the blast caused severe destruction to their residence.

After the explosion, tensions surged on Tuesday. Two protesters lost their lives, and 31 others were injured during violent confrontations and gunfire when a mob assaulted a CRPF camp in Bishnupur. One more injured protester succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday.

A large assembly of approximately 500 individuals, including women, organized massive protests denouncing the deaths of the two children. Officials reported that protesters invaded a CRPF camp near Gelmol, only a few hundred meters away from the explosion site, igniting vehicles and vandalizing property.

In a separate initiative, security forces retrieved two 9 mm pistols along with critical items, including documents such as medical records, PAN and Aadhaar cards, and both Indian and Myanmar currency from an area situated between border pillars 72 and 73 near Yangoubung village in Tengnoupal district, which borders Myanmar.

Moreover, a militant affiliated with the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) group was taken into custody, and more weapons and ammunition were seized from various locations in Imphal East and Imphal West districts.

Security forces, comprising both central and state agencies, have ramped up their operations against militant organizations. Ongoing search operations and area domination exercises are being conducted in fringe, mixed-population, and high-risk areas across multiple districts.

To enhance security and deter illegal movement, a total of 101 checkpoints have been established throughout Manipur, spanning both valley and hill districts.

Authorities are also assigning armed escorts to vehicles, including trucks transporting essential goods, along the Imphal–Jiribam National Highway (NH-37). Strict security measures and convoy protection protocols are in effect in sensitive areas to guarantee the safe passage of vehicles.

Meanwhile, Manipur Police have urged the public to refrain from believing in rumors or being misled by counterfeit videos circulating on social media. 'The authenticity of any unfounded videos or audio clips should be verified through the Central Control Room. Disseminating and sharing fake posts on social media will result in legal repercussions,' a police statement warned.

The police have also called upon the community to promptly return any looted arms, ammunition, and explosives to the authorities or the nearest security personnel.