Imphal: Police in Manipur on Sunday said they have arrested three militants linked to different banned outfits, along with an arms dealer, in separate operations across the state.
Two insurgents from the proscribed PREPAK group were apprehended on Friday from Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district. They have been identified as Thokchom Manimatum Singh, 20, and Laishram Premsagar Singh, 24. Police said the duo was involved in extortion targeting local residents, businesses, and schools.
In a separate operation, a 62-year-old cadre of the banned People’s Liberation Army, Adhikarimayum Ramkumar Sharma, was arrested from Kongba in Imphal East district.
Authorities also detained a 33-year-old arms dealer, Phijam Chetanjit Singh, from his residence in Yurembam, Imphal West district, on Friday. Police seized a self-loading rifle, two magazines, and 96 assorted cartridges from him.
Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway to ascertain the militants’ and dealer’s broader networks.