Security forces strike hard in Manipur: 6 militants held, 22 weapons and grenades seized in coordinated crackdown

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 5, 2025

In a major security push, joint teams of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, along with Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF, and ITBP, conducted a series of successful coordinated operations across several districts in Manipur from April 4 to 5, leading to the apprehension of six armed militants and the recovery of a large cache of weapons, grenades, ammunition, and war-like stores.

According to Defence spokesperson Lt Col Amit Shukla, the operations were carried out in the volatile hill and valley districts of Imphal West, Kakching, Imphal East, Churachandpur, and Bishnupur, underscoring the multi-agency commitment to stabilize the conflict-hit state.

In Imphal East, joint forces apprehended two cadres and recovered a pistol from Karpur Sangha. Separately, a significant haul of weapons and ammunition was seized in Ngariyan Hill, including one Carbine, four Pistols, a .22 Rifle, a 12 Bore Single Barrel Rifle, two Single Bore Rifles, grenades, and ammunition.

On April 4 in Bishnupur district, four weapons—including a Self Loading Rifle (SLR), Carbine, .303 Rifle, and a Double Barrel Rifle—along with war-like stores were seized in Chandpur. That same day in Imphal West, security forces recovered another cache of arms from Khongam Pat, comprising an SLR, a 303 Rifle, a gun with telescopic sight, a .177 gun, two pistols, and additional ammunition.

Meanwhile, in Kakching district, the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police captured two cadres in Khongjom Khebaching, seizing two pistols, ammunition, and other combat materials. Two more cadres were detained in D Vaison, Churachandpur district, further weakening militant hold in the region.

All apprehended individuals and recovered materials have been handed over to Manipur Police for further investigation and legal proceedings.

“These meticulously executed joint operations underscore the relentless efforts of security forces to root out armed threats and restore normalcy in the region,” said Lt Col Shukla. “The synergy among various forces is a clear message to anti-social elements that lawlessness will not be tolerated,” Shukla added.