Security forces in Manipur arrested seven militants, including an active woman cadre, belonging to multiple banned outfits during coordinated joint operations across four districts over the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday, 30 August. Separately, a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered and two drug peddlers were nabbed with approximately 53 grams of heroin in Bishnupur district.

Key Arrests and Districts Covered

The seven militants were apprehended across Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, and Kakching districts in operations jointly conducted by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, and other Central security forces. The arrested individuals belong to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).

Notably, one of the detainees is Laishram Abem Devi (37), identified as an active cadre of the KCP (People's War Group), arrested from Thoubal district — one of the rare instances of a woman militant being apprehended in recent operations. According to officials, the arrested militants were reportedly involved in attacks on civilians, kidnapping, forcible collection of so-called 'subscriptions', and recruitment of youths into banned outfits.

Arms Cache Recovered in Bishnupur

A combined security team recovered a substantial haul of weapons from Bishnupur district. The seized arsenal included one 9 mm pistol with magazine, one .32 pistol with magazine, one country-made AK rifle with magazine, one country-made MP-9 with magazine, one country-made SBBL gun, one country-made .22 rifle with magazine, two 36-hand grenades, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and a large quantity of ammunition of various calibres along with other accessories.

The breadth of the haul — spanning improvised rifles, grenades, and IEDs — points to active logistical networks still operating within the state, even as security deployments have intensified.

Drug Peddlers Held, Heroin Seized

During routine frisking at the Sericulture Training Centre area, the Manipur Police arrested two drug peddlers identified as Amir Khan (34) and Md. Bungo (33). Officers seized five soap cases containing heroin weighing approximately 53 grams from their possession. A two-wheeler used by the accused was also confiscated.

This comes amid longstanding concerns over Manipur's position on the drug-trafficking corridor linking Myanmar to India's northeast — a route security agencies have flagged repeatedly in recent years.

Ongoing Counter-Insurgency Measures

Security forces comprising Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Manipur Police have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations, including search operations and area-domination exercises, across fringe, mixed-population, and other vulnerable areas. As part of intensified security measures, 111 nakas and checkpoints have been set up across valley and hill districts to monitor militant movement and suspicious vehicles.

Armed escorts are also being provided to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), with convoy protection in place along vulnerable stretches to ensure uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles. With operations ongoing, further arrests and recoveries remain possible in the days ahead.