Imphal: Security forces in Manipur have arrested 14 people, including militants and drug traffickers, and uncovered an illegal liquor unit in a series of coordinated operations across the state, officials said on Tuesday.
According to a defence spokesperson, the joint operations—carried out by the Army, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police—spanned seven districts, including Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Chandel, Thoubal, Kakching, Imphal West, and Imphal East.
The week-long crackdown led to the arrest of 11 militants from valley and hill-based groups such as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
Five sophisticated firearms, narcotics, and other war-like stores were also recovered.
In Imphal West, three PLA and KCP operatives allegedly involved in extortion were taken into custody.
Security forces seized a motorcycle, mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, Aadhaar and PAN cards during the raid.
Meanwhile, in Churchandpur district, police intercepted two drug smugglers—identified as Thanglunpau Sukte (32) and Hauginlian Phaipi (35)—at the Guite check gate.
They were caught with 176 soap cases of brown sugar weighing 1.9 kg, hidden in a car. In another case, police in Imphal East arrested Aribam Mansish (23) and recovered 1.94 kg of ganja.
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A separate raid in Keirao Louthok Loukon, Imphal East, unearthed an illicit local liquor bottling facility.
Security personnel seized an iron bottling machine, hundreds of empty bottles and caps, suspected opioid codeine-filled containers, camouflage clothing, and other equipment used for large-scale illegal production.
In a significant breakthrough, the Assam Rifles, acting with the Narcotics Control Bureau, recovered 138.5 kg of opium worth nearly Rs. 6.9 crore from a concealed cache near Sajik Tampak in Chandel district.
Officials said the series of operations underscores the security forces’ commitment to curbing militancy, narcotics trade, and organised crime in Manipur.
