Imphal (Manipur): Manipur security forces on Saturday, March 28, 2026, announced the arrest of seven active cadres belonging to four different proscribed militant groups. The coordinated operations, conducted over the last 48 hours across Tengnoupal, Imphal East, and Imphal West districts, targeted individuals allegedly involved in recent IED explosions, extortion, and long-standing insurgency cases. This crackdown comes as part of the sustained search operations maintained by the state and central forces since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.
Among those apprehended were four members of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA). One cadre was intercepted near the India-Myanmar border under the Moreh Police Station limits on Thursday. Following this, three additional PLA members were arrested from Imphal East on March 26. Police confirmed that these individuals were linked to specific IED attacks targeting local businessmen. During the raids, security personnel recovered three improvised explosive devices and two detonators, preventing potential further attacks in the capital region.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of cadres from other outlawed organizations. On Friday, security forces detained one member each from the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) in the sensitive Moreh border town. Simultaneously, in Imphal West, an active member of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF-P) was taken into custody from his residence in Thangmeiband. This individual was wanted in connection with a 2022 bomb explosion in the Sagolband Takhellambam Leikai area. With over 260 lives lost in the ongoing ethnic strife between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups, officials emphasized that neutralizing these insurgent elements remains a priority for restoring regional stability.
