Imphal: In a series of operations, six cadres of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Ibungo Ngangom) were arrested in Imphal West district, while two members of the G5 Organisation were apprehended in Imphal East for alleged extortion activities, according to police reports on Saturday.
The arrests of the six members from the proscribed outfit were made on Friday at Koutruk Makha Leikai Church in Imphal West.
A senior police officer confirmed the operation and said the arrested individuals were involved in unlawful activities linked to the group.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation, police arrested Ningthoujam Yamba Singh (43) and Usham Netaji Singh (35) from Achanbigei Maning Leikai in Imphal East.
The two men are accused of extorting money from sand-laden trucks in Sekmai, Irilbung, Koirengei, and Patsoi areas. Additionally, they are believed to have been involved in incidents of snatching truck keys in Sekmai.
In a related development, the Manipur Police reported the seizure of firearms and ammunition.
Two firearms were handed over to the administration in Kakching and Kangpokpi districts.
Additionally, security forces recovered 12 firearms from the Kakching Wairi area, which were later transferred to the Kakching Police Station.
These operations come after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged citizens to surrender illegal arms and ammunition in the wake of growing concerns over law and order in the state.
In another significant security operation, forces recovered a large cache of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Maojang village, located under the Moreh Police Station limits in Tengnoupal district.
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The recovered materials included two IEDs weighing 22 kg with detonators, a 7-kg IED, a 6-kg bomb with detonators, and a 4-kg bomb.
Due to safety concerns over the instability of the IEDs, a bomb disposal team destroyed the devices on-site. An FIR has been registered in connection with the recovery.
The latest arrests and seizures are part of ongoing efforts by the Manipur Police, in collaboration with central forces, to maintain security following the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023.
The violence, primarily between the Meitei community in Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the surrounding hills, has led to over 250 deaths and left thousands displaced.
