IT News
Imphal, Oct 27:
Security forces apprehended three suspected militants and uncovered a significant cache of weapons in operations along the Indo-Myanmar border. Two alleged members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Ningombam Priyo Singh and Saikhom Devjit Singh, both aged 21, were detained on October 26 in Tengnoupal District. The arrests followed the detention of Robert Lalhahdam, a suspected cadre of the PREPAK(PRO), at Yanghoubung village on October 25. Authorities seized an INSAS Excalibur rifle from Lalhahdam.
In Churachandpur District, a search operation in the forest near Teijang village at the foothills of Thangjing Ridge led to the discovery of a hidden weapons stockpile. Recovered items included three rifles, an improvised sniper rifle with a telescopic sight, a homemade mortar, 30 rounds of live ammunition, various explosive components, and tear gas grenades.
According to a Manipur Police release, extensive searches were also conducted in the Tentha Tuwaband foothills in Thoubal District, where security forces confiscated a 7.62mm sniper rifle, five 9mm Burmese-made pistols with magazines, five 36 HE hand grenades, two mortar shells, and other explosive devices. Communication equipment, including a Baofeng radio set, was also seized.
Additionally, the arsenal uncovered in the foothills of Thangjing Ridge included two .303 rifles with magazines, an improvised .303 sniper rifle, two .22mm semi-automatic rifles with magazines, a country-made mortar known as “Pumpi,” and various rounds of ammunition and detonators.
This series of operations across Manipur’s hill and valley districts highlights ongoing security efforts to curb militancy and illegal arms trafficking in the region.