Manipur Police have arrested three people in connection with the October 19 attack at Sunulok Hill that killed three firewood collectors and injured three others. Security forces also recovered 12 firearms, 1,095 rounds of ammunition and explosives during intensified operations, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press briefing at Police Headquarters in Mantripukhri, Lhatoo said two accused admitted during preliminary interrogation to being part of the attack team. Police are investigating the third accused and searching for other suspects.

Joint teams of Manipur Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA launched intelligence-based searches on Monday evening around S Highland Court and neighbouring villages under Sagolmang Police Station.

The killings near Uyumpok, close to Nongsum Hill along the Imphal East-Kangpokpi district boundary, triggered protests in Imphal. Demonstrators brought the victims’ bodies to the Chief Minister’s bungalow and demanded immediate action. A local MLA also sought the removal of a nearby Suspension of Operations (SoO) camp, citing security lapses. The incident has raised concerns over civilian safety and renewed Meitei-Kuki tensions.

The seized weapons included INSAS, M16, A1, AK-47/Type-81, 7.62 mm sniper and 5.56 mm Heckler & Koch rifles, along with three 12-bore guns, a Lethod gun and a handmade rocket launcher.

Police also recovered TNT slabs, PK explosive, gunpowder, Lethod shells, locally made Pompi bombs, M61 rifle grenades, a Chinese hand grenade, handmade mortars and three detonators. Radio sets, batteries, helmets, uniforms, a monocular and poppy plant seeds were also seized.

In a separate operation near Sinai camp on Tuesday morning, joint teams of Manipur Police, CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, Assam Rifles and the Army detained 17 people for identity verification. Their details did not match the listed cadres of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) associated with the camp. Lhatoo said verification was ongoing and ammunition and magazines reported missing from the camp were being checked against recovered weapons.

Senior officers conducted helicopter surveillance over the operation sites. Director General of Police Mukesh Singh also visited the Sunulok Hill attack site to coordinate the response.

Meanwhile, a joint operation in the Khangabok-Sangaiyumpham area involved searches of around 146 houses and verification of more than 300 people. Police detained four suspects and arrested two in connection with the case. They also seized a double-barrel gun for forensic examination.

Lhatoo urged residents to maintain peace, avoid spreading rumours or provocative content online and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or central control room. He warned that legal action would follow the circulation of false information.

Asked about the arrested men’s organisational links, Lhatoo said the investigation and interrogations were continuing. He also said authorities needed more time to establish the identities and backgrounds of those detained at Sinai camp.