IMPHAL, March 21: In a significant operation on March 20, Manipur Police arrested three cadres of the KCP (MFL) as part of an ongoing crackdown on militant activities in the region. The arrested individuals were identified as Aheibam Gandhi alias Nanao (35), Thongam Naoba Meitei (21), and Ningthouba Momocha Singh. They were apprehended at Lilong Chajing Mamang Leikai, located under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West District. The trio is reportedly involved in abductions for ransom. Authorities also seized a four-wheeler and four mobile phones with SIM cards from their possession.

In parallel to these arrests, extensive security operations were launched across both the hill and valley districts of Manipur. The operations resulted in major recoveries of weapons, explosives, and other materials associated with militant activities.

One operation, conducted near Apunlok Canal between Kangchup and Singda Kadangband under Lamsang Police Station in Imphal West District, led to the recovery of a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) with a magazine, a pistol with a magazine, ten cartridges, two 36 HE grenades without ignitor sets, two military helmets, two bulletproof jackets, four locally made iron bulletproof plates, and two Baofeng wireless handsets without batteries.

Another search operation at Yairipok Gwarok under Yairipok Police Station in Thoubal District resulted in the recovery of two 7.62 mm SLRs, each with an empty magazine, and 20 rounds of .303 live ammunition.

In a separate raid in the K. Geljang and K. Patbung villages under Kangchup Police Station in Kangpokpi District, security forces seized two 7.62 mm rifles with magazines, three 7.62 mm live rounds, one .303 bore rifle with a magazine, one locally made .315 bore pistol with a magazine, one .22 caliber air pistol with an empty case, one Pompi gun, nine live 12-bore rounds, five Baofeng radio sets, and three radio set chargers.

Security forces also uncovered a large cache of explosives in Jiribam District, specifically at Uchathol Mayai Leikai under Jiribam Police Station. The seized materials included 100 sticks of Stardyne-901 explosives, classified as Class II CAT-ZZ, weighing approximately 12.5 kg, alongside 20 live rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition and two plastic bags.

In yet another operation in the Moulzawl and Binselu Rubber Plantation areas of Jiribam District, authorities discovered five locally made single-barrel guns, one locally made 12-bore rifle, one locally made pistol, two Pompi guns, six Pompi bombs, one improvised explosive device (IED) with remote and electrical initiation, and two gelatin sticks.