Imphal, Aug 2 (IANS) The security forces in Manipur, in separate intelligence-based operations, have arrested nine militants belonging to different banned insurgent outfits and recovered arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials during the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.
A senior police official said the nine militants were apprehended in Thoubal, Tamenglong, Kakching, Chandel, Imphal West and Imphal East districts during coordinated operations by the Manipur Police and other security agencies.
The arrested militants belong to the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), its political wing the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
According to the police, the arrested insurgents were allegedly involved in a range of criminal activities, including kidnapping and the forcible collection of “subscriptions”, a euphemism commonly used by insurgent groups for extortion.
The security personnel recovered several incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals and letterheads of the banned outfits, Baofeng communication handsets and various other materials from the possession of the arrested militants.
In another joint operation, the security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from a forest area under Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal district, which shares an unfenced international border with Myanmar.
The recovered items include one 9 mm pistol, one double-barrel gun, six radio sets, two hand grenades and six powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Police said the IEDs were safely destroyed on the spot by the bomb disposal team following standard operating procedures.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, accompanied by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) in charge of Law and Order and Intelligence, visited the historic 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles in Imphal, one of the oldest battalions in the state with a legacy spanning 134 years.
During the visit, the DGP was briefed about the history of the Manipur Police, beginning with the raising of the 1st Manipur Rifles in 1892, and its evolution and contributions over the years.
An official statement said that the Manipur Police is not only a law enforcement agency but also an integral part of the state’s history, growth and institutional reforms.
The DGP inspected several key facilities of the British-era heritage battalion, including the Quarter Guard, the Manipur Police Officers’ Club, the Banquet Hall, the Transport Wing, the Parade Ground, the Church, the Temple, the Canteen and the Petrol Pump.
He also interacted with officers and personnel of the battalion, during which various issues relating to the revamping of the unit, adherence to deployment protocols, regular inspections and compliance mechanisms were discussed in detail.
The statement said that valuable feedback and suggestions were shared to ensure the battalion’s continued development and the implementation of projects suited to modern-day policing requirements.
Meanwhile, the security forces, comprising both Central Armed Police Forces and the Manipur Police, have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations, including search operations and area domination exercises, in fringe, mixed-population and other vulnerable areas across the state.
As part of the intensified security measures, a total of 111 nakas and checkpoints have been set up across both the valley and hill districts to curb the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.
The security forces have also been providing escorts to vehicles, including trucks transporting essential commodities, along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).
Strict security arrangements and convoy protection continue to remain in place in vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles.
The Manipur Police have also appealed to the public not to believe rumours or unverified information and advised people to remain vigilant against fake videos and misleading content circulating on various social media platforms.
–IANS
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