Imphal, Aug 23 — Security forces in Manipur, in separate joint operations conducted across different districts, have arrested eight militants, including a declared absconder and extremist leader, belonging to various banned outfits during the past 24 hours, officials said here on Sunday.
A police spokesman said that the eight militants were apprehended in Thoubal, Kakching, Tengnoupal, Imphal East and Imphal West districts during coordinated operations conducted by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and other Central forces.
The arrested militants belong to the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP).
According to the spokesman, the arrested militants were reportedly involved in various crimes and illegal activities, including attacks on people, kidnapping, forcible collection of “subscriptions” and recruitment of youths into the banned outfits.
Of the eight arrested militants, two were identified as self-styled Captain of the PLA Thiyam Boycha Singh alias Balin, 28, and self-styled Captain of the KYKL Chongtham Lukhoi alias Rakesh, 45.
The police spokesman said that during questioning, it was revealed that Thiyam Boycha Singh was part of the team that ambushed Assam Rifles personnel and six others at Behiang in Churachandpur district on November 13, 2021. He is the third accused in the case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and is a declared absconder, the official said.
Security forces recovered arms and ammunition, several incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals, letterheads of the banned outfits and other materials from the possession of the arrested militants.
Meanwhile, security forces comprising the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) 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, 111 nakas and checkpoints have been set up across the valley and hill districts to monitor the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.
The security forces have also been providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).
Strict security arrangements and convoy protection continue to remain in place along vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles, the officials said.