Imphal: Security forces in Manipur have arrested seven militants belonging to proscribed outfits and seized arms, ammunition, and drugs in multiple operations across the state over the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.
The arrests were made from Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts.
The detained cadres are reportedly members of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)/Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) — one of Manipur’s oldest militant formations, active mainly in the Imphal valley.
According to police, the arrested rebels were involved in extortion, recruitment drives for the RPF/PLA, and mediating disputes through intimidation, particularly in cases involving loan recovery.
In a separate operation, forces recovered 2,000 methamphetamine tablets, valued at around Rs. 16.66 lakh, from a residence in Tuibong village, Churachandpur district.
The house belonged to a 44-year-old man identified as Chinhat.
The tablets, also known as Yaba or “crazy drug”, contain methamphetamine and caffeine and are banned in India.
Officials said Churachandpur, which borders Myanmar and Mizoram, has become a hub for narcotics smuggling.
Security forces also recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition from Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts.
The seized items included a 9 mm carbine submachine gun with a magazine, a .303 rifle, 9 mm and .32 pistols, ten locally made single-barrel guns, and one pull mechanism rifle, along with assorted ammunition.
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Search and area domination operations are continuing across vulnerable zones, particularly along border and fringe regions.
Authorities said movement of 346 vehicles carrying essential commodities along the Imphal–Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) was ensured without any disruption under tight security cover.
Officials added that 114 checkpoints have been set up across hill and valley districts to monitor the movement of vehicles and prevent illegal activities.
