Coordinated crackdowns spanning Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul districts netted AK-47 rifles, pistols, 1,800 kg of poppy seeds, opium, IEDs and 21 bunkers — amid a backdrop of a deadly militant attack on civilians.
IMPHAL - Security forces have carried out a sweeping series of arrests and recoveries across multiple districts of Manipur between April 8 and 12, 2026, seizing a significant cache of arms, ammunition and narcotics while dismantling militant infrastructure in remote forest and village areas. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the operations, two of whom are linked to alleged militant activity following a deadly attack on civilians in Bishnupur district.
A joint team of the Indian Army and district police apprehended Jampao Kuki (41), son of late Mangthang Haokip of Lenmoul village, near Kaprang village under Churachandpur police station at approximately 12 am on April 8. The arrest was part of a response to a militant attack that had occurred in the early hours of April 7 at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Bishnupur district, in which a 5-year-old boy and a 4-month-old girl were killed and their mother was seriously injured.
Case registered: FIR No. 34(04)2026 CCP-PS under BNS Sections 310(6), 308(2), and 3(5).
Hours after the first arrest, another joint team moved on K Saronphai village, detaining Sasang Vaiphei (32) of Thingkeu village and Paulallem Vaiphei (19) of Chongkhozou village. Both are alleged cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA). Police invoked provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act, registering a separate FIR (No. 35(04)2026 CCP-PS) under Sections 18(b) and 29 of the NDPS Act and Section 25(1-C) of the Arms Act.
On April 10, security forces apprehended two more individuals at Torbung Bangla motor vehicle checkpoint. The arrested persons were identified as Letzakai Haokio (32) of Sarang Tampak Chakpikarong (currently residing at Thingkangphai) and Lunkhohao Haokip of V Tuisomjang village. The seizure was among the largest single-haul drug recoveries reported in the ongoing operations.
In a separate operation on the same day, security forces conducted a search of a forest area in Taijang village under Chakpikarong police station, Chandel district, uncovering a substantial weapons cache believed to belong to militant outfits active in the region.
Security forces recovered two 9 mm pistols with magazines and 13 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the tri-junction of Maojang, Libung, Gomnom and T Khonunjang under Moreh police station in Tengnoupal district. The IEDs were destroyed on the spot to prevent any accidental detonation. Additionally, two combat uniforms, a pair of jungle shoes and a backpack were seized from the location.
In Churachandpur, police separately arrested H Kamtunmung (50) and Paulianlal (49), both residents of Vengnuam Singhat, from Hiangtam village under Behiang police station. From their possession, security forces seized 45 soap cases of brown sugar, a Maruti Gypsy vehicle, two mobile phones and two bags.
In a concurrent area domination operation, security forces destroyed 14 bunkers at Sikibung and seven bunkers at Mongkot Chepu village under Litan police station in Ukhrul district. Eleven empty cartridge cases were recovered during the sweep, indicating recent use of the positions. Police described the operations as part of ongoing search and area domination exercises targeting vulnerable areas of the state.
