Imphal: Security forces carried out a series of coordinated, intelligence-based joint operations across multiple districts of Manipur between February 1 and February 7.
The operations led to the arrest of seven insurgent cadres from hill and valley-based groups and recovery of a large cache of weapons, explosives and other war-like stores.
According to officials, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles formations under Spear Corps, in close conjunction with Manipur Police, conducted the joint operations in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur and Pherzawl districts.
On February 1, Assam Rifles and Thoubal Police Commandos acted on specific intelligence and launched a joint operation in the Mayang Imphal area of Imphal West District. One active cadre of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (SOREPA) was apprehended and a smartphone with a SIM card was recovered.
On February 2, Assam Rifles, in joint operation with Manipur Police, detected a concealed insurgent hideout near Tonglhang village, leading to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, two pistols, two single-barrel rifles, three radio sets, 18 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), three 9 mm rounds, eight 7.62 mm rounds, wire bundles and seven fired 7.62 mm cartridge cases.
All 18 IEDs were destroyed at the site following standard safety procedures, with remnants, weighing approximately 2.5 kg.
On the same day, separate joint operations in Kakwa and Lambal areas of Imphal West District led to the arrest of two active cadres of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). One smartphone, SIM cards and an Aadhaar card were recovered during the operations.
On February 3, based on credible intelligence regarding suspicious movement of Valley-Based Anti-National Elements and a concealed arms cache in the Loktak Lake area east of Phubala village, a joint operation was launched by Assam Rifles in coordination with local police. The operation resulted in the recovery of one 9 mm country-made carbine with magazine, one 9 mm pistol with magazine, one .32 mm pistol with magazine, five rifle grenades, two lathode bombs, five 12-bore cartridges, ten 9 mm live rounds and one sniper scope.
Another search operation in Lambal the same day led to the recovery of additional firearms, ammunition, magazines, a hand grenade and other war-like stores.
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Meanwhile, Assam Rifles foiled an ambush attempt by armed insurgents along the India-Myanmar Border in the general area of T’Minou near Border Pillar 75, Tengnoupal District. Acting on credible intelligence, troops established an ambush and launched an Area Domination Patrol and repelled insurgents fire from across the border.
Subsequent searches led to the recovery of one AK-56 rifle with magazine (without cylinder), one M4 rifle with magazine and telescopic sight, ten rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, fifteen rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and eight fired cartridge cases.
On February 5, a joint operation by Assam Rifles and Imphal East Police Commandos in Pungdongbam of Imphal East District led to the arrest of one active cadre of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive).
Another cadre, belonging to the United National Liberation Front (Koireng) was apprehended on February 6 in Singjamei, Imphal West District. The operation led to the recovery of one smartphone, one SIM card and one Aadhaar card.
On February 7, security forces arrested an active cadre of PREPAK during a joint operation along the Andro–Wangkhem–Irilbung axis in Imphal East district. On the same day, Assam Rifles and Imphal West Police Commandos apprehended another cadre of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive) from Senjam Khunou in Imphal West district, recovering a smartphone with a SIM card.
