Manipur Police Arrest 4 Insurgents, Including 2 UNLF (Koireng) Cadres from Churachandpur; Arms Recovered in Kangpokpi

In a series of counter-insurgency operations, Manipur Police on May 1 arrested four active cadres belonging to two banned insurgent outfits—UNLF (Koireng) and PREPAK (Pro)—and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from various locations, including Kangpokpi district.

According to an official police release issued on Thursday, two UNLF (Koireng) cadres were apprehended from North AOC area in Imphal West district. The arrested individuals were identified as Huidrom Pishak alias Pi (35) of Khuga Tampak Meitei Leikai, Churachandpur, currently residing in Langol Game Village, and Hanglem Thoiba Meitei alias Ibungo alias Tombung (28) of Khumujamba Meitei Leikai, Churachandpur, presently living in Checkon, Imphal East.

The arrests were made following intelligence-driven combing and cordon-and-search operations aimed at cracking down on extortion activities in the state. During the arrest, police seized a 9 mm pistol loaded with two live rounds, a two-wheeler, two mobile phones, a binocular, and a sling.

In a separate operation the same day, Manipur Police also arrested two active cadres of PREPAK (Pro). Chandramani Chandam alias Tamyanganba alias Gambhir (42), a resident of Lairenkabi Maning Leikai in Imphal West, was apprehended under Lamsang Police Station. Meanwhile, Khundongbam Kalambiya Singh alias Atomba (19) was picked up from the Arong Bridge area in Thoubal district for alleged involvement in extortion in Athokpam and Khangabok areas. Police seized a mobile phone, a wallet, Aadhaar and PAN cards, and a two-wheeler from his possession.

In addition to the arrests, security forces carried out extensive search and domination operations in fringe areas of hill and valley districts. These efforts led to a significant arms haul from Kangpokpi district.

From Lungphou and Maohing villages under Kangpokpi Police Station, authorities recovered one SLR rifle, a locally made .303 rifle with magazine, a bolt-action rifle, a 12-bore single-barrel gun, a pump-action gun, two empty 7.62 mm SLR magazines, 10 live rounds, and two hand grenades without safety pins and chain levers.

Further raids in Makhom village and adjoining Kangchup Chiru village under Kangchup Police Station yielded two SLRs with magazines, one INSAS rifle, one 12-bore SBBL gun, a .22 rifle, another pump-action gun, an improvised long-range mortar (Pumpi), a .36 hand grenade, a multi-grenade launcher round, and 12-bore live ammunition.