Imphal: The long arm of the law has landed a decisive strike against insurgent networks in Manipur, with police forces nabbing three active militants and uncovering a staggering cache of weapons in a series of coordinated operations over two days.
The arrests, targeting key members of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-PWG) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), underscore a sustained push by authorities to dismantle armed groups and their criminal enterprises in the region.
The crackdown began on August 26 when special teams cornered Suraj Oinam, alias Chingkhomba and Abungo, a 23-year-old cadre of the KCP-PWG, in the Canchipur area of Imphal West. A day later, security personnel moved swiftly to apprehend Sarangthem Ibomcha Meitei, known by his alias Luwangba, a 22-year-old KYKL member, from his home in Itham Wangma Mayai Leikai in Imphal East. In a third, unrelated operation, police also managed to bring in V Shiva, or Ishwar Pandey, from Moreh, who was allegedly running a sophisticated extortion racket targeting transporters and businessmen while also supplying weapons to local criminal elements.
What truly revealed the scale of the threat was the treasure trove of weaponry recovered by forces during these operations. In the dense jungles between Maohing and Changoubung villages, authorities unearthed a veritable arsenal. The cache included an impressive haul of high-powered US-made M16 rifles with magazines and ammunition, along with looted .303 rifles, components for a light machine gun, and a range of pistols. Further discoveries in the Khongnangpokpi area and near Kotzim village yielded an assortment of locally-made firearms, hand grenades, carbines, and even improvised mortars, painting a grim picture of the militant firepower lurking in the hills. The seizures, which also included radio sets and protective gear, have dealt a significant blow to the operational capabilities of these groups and are expected to disrupt their activities for the foreseeable future.
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