Security forces in Manipur conducted a series of synchronized operations from October 17 to 24, resulting in various arrests and confiscations of illicit items and weapons, as per officials’ announcement on Sunday. The Indian Army, along with Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, collaborated on these operations, leading to the capture of two militants from different groups, the retrieval of a pistol with two rounds, and the seizure of 500 liters of counterfeit alcohol. Notably, one individual was apprehended on October 17 at Pangaltabi in Kakching, while another, identified as Haominthang Haokip from the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), was arrested in Churachandpur on October 24.
Security sources emphasized the continuation of such initiatives as part of the ongoing efforts to combat threats from armed factions and reinforce law and order in the region, which has experienced sporadic unrest since the previous year.
In a separate development, former Chief Minister N Biren Singh urged the state authorities to enhance the security presence along the Manipur–Mizoram border due to concerns over potential illegal migration following reports of evictions in Mizoram. During a Ningol Chakouba feast attended by approximately 2,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at his residence in Imphal West, Singh cautioned that recent displacements in Mizoram might prompt a fresh influx into Manipur. He emphasized the importance of proper identification for those seeking temporary refuge and stressed the necessity of coordinated surveillance efforts by both central and state security forces.