Security forces arrested 13 militants belonging to several banned outfits during joint operations across five districts of Manipur in the past 24 hours. The operations also led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition. Security forces destroyed three illegally constructed bunkers in Senapati district as part of the operations.

Officials said the arrests took place during separate coordinated operations in Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Chandel and Kakching districts. Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and other Central forces carried out these operations. Six of the arrested militants are cadres of the United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK).

The arrested militants are linked to several banned outfits. These include the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing, the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the Socialist Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (SOREPA), the UPPK and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).

A police spokesman said the arrested militants were reportedly involved in several crimes and illegal activities. These included attacks on people, kidnapping, forcible collection of “subscriptions” and recruitment of youths into banned outfits.

Security forces recovered arms, ammunition and other material during the operations. The seizures included incriminating documents, cars, several two-wheelers, subscription receipts and other secret documents. Chandel district also saw the recovery of weapons and ammunition. The district shares an unfenced border with Myanmar.

The weapons recovered included a foreign-made MP-09 rifle, a CMG with one magazine, a modified .303 rifle with one magazine and an INSAS rifle with one magazine. Security forces also seized seven pistols of different calibres, each with a magazine, along with eight single-barrel guns, 14 12-bore guns and a double-barrel gun.

The security forces also recovered a Pompi gun, a functional rocket, two hand grenades, a mortar bomb and two land mines. The seized material further included an improvised fragmentation mine, four detonators and a large cache of live bullets.

In Senapati district, security forces destroyed three illegally constructed bunkers in Taphou Kuki and Taphou Liangmai villages. The action came after fresh violence in the Taphou area.

A CRPF jawan suffered injuries during a gunfight between two groups on Monday. At least two houses were also set on fire in the same Taphou village. The violence led to protests and a blockade on National Highway-2.

A police official said that the fresh violence was reported in Taphou village amid heightened tensions between the Naga and Kuki tribal communities.

Security forces have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations across Manipur. The operations include search missions and area-domination exercises in fringe areas, mixed-population zones and other vulnerable locations across the state.

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Manipur Police have also increased security checks across the state. A total of 111 nakas and checkpoints have been established across the valley and hill districts. These checkpoints aim to monitor the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.

Security forces are also providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities on the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37). Officials said strict security measures and convoy protection remain in place along vulnerable stretches of the highway.

The security arrangements aim to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles along the route. The latest operations come amid continued security concerns and tensions in several parts of Manipur. The arrests, weapons seizures and destruction of the bunkers form part of the ongoing efforts by security forces to prevent militant activity and maintain security across the state.