Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Joint forces from the CDO-Imphal West and the 33 Assam Rifles raided the Sajirok area on September 20. They struck gold. Security personnel pulled a significant cache of weaponry and gear from the site located under the Patsoi Police Station jurisdiction in Imphal West district.
The haul included one CMG, five 9mm pistols, one PAG, and eight single-barrel guns. Authorities also logged one No. 36 HE hand grenade and 46 assorted live rounds into evidence. They seized six TSMs and one Baofeng wireless handset as well.
The state has taken custody of all items. Investigators are now working to identify where the stash came from and who planned to use it. They are specifically looking for links to armed groups operating in the region. According to the security forces, "The recovered weapons, ammunition and communication equipment have been taken into custody." The investigation remains active.
Updated at 21st September 2026 at 9:50am
Beyond the Sajirok cache, security forces hammered insurgent networks across multiple districts on September 20. Bishnupur commandos collared Sanasam Gobin Singh, an active RPF/PLA cadre, in the Kumbi area. Meanwhile, Imphal West commandos and the 33 Assam Rifles pinched two PREPAK members, Heikham Amujao Singh and Athokpam Robinkumar Singh, for extortion. Police picked up Amujao Singh near North AOC and nabbed Robinkumar at his home, recovering a 9mm pistol and 12 rounds.
In a separate sweep, CRPF and Imphal West commandos raided Phayeng under the Lamsang station. They arrested PLA associate Angom Manikanta Singh and seized a No. 36 HE grenade, two Chinese hand grenades, two detonators, and 18 live rounds. Separate operations in Moirang thwarted a kidnapping, with police arresting driver Makakmayum Imtiyazur Rahaman after his victim escaped a vehicle near Naranseina.
Drug enforcement also ramped up during the crackdown. Authorities recovered 2.1 kg of brown sugar from an abandoned Maruti Swift near Terakhongshangbi Bazar in Bishnupur. In Senapati, a joint team busted three men, Rohim Ali, Anowar Hussain Laskar, and Md Nawaz Khan, with 2.3 kg of WY tablets and 5,000 rupees in cash.
Updated at 21st September 2026 at 1:51pm
On September 21, a combined team of Imphal West commandos and the 33 Assam Rifles scoured the areas around Akham and Lamdeng villages. They pulled another stash of hardware from the ground, including nine 9mm pistols, a locally made lathode gun, two bolt-action single-barrel guns, one No. 36 HE grenade, and five TSMs.
New details emerged regarding the suspects collared on September 20. Bishnupur commandos identified the RPF/PLA cadre as 35-year-old Sanasam Gobin Singh of Wangoo Maning Sabal. The two PREPAK members picked up for extortion were identified as 45-year-old Heikham Amujao Singh of Toupokpi Maning Leikai and 46-year-old Athokpam Robinkumar Singh of Ningomthong Kitna Panung. The PLA associate arrested in Phayeng on September 19 was identified as 23-year-old Angom Manikanta Singh of Phayeng Kharang Khunou.
In the Moirang kidnapping case, the victim was identified as Md Wasim Akram, a West Bengal resident. Investigators discovered the kidnapping operation involved an Assam-registered Bolero. Regarding the drug bust in Senapati, police identified the three men as 23-year-old Rohim Ali and 48-year-old Anowar Hussain Laskar, both from Assam, and Md Nawaz Khan of Mayang Imphal. The Koireng-led United National Liberation Front also issued a statement denying any association with Khundongbam Motilal, who was arrested by Thoubal Police and the 46 Assam Rifles on August 11.
Updated at 22nd September 2026 at 9:47am
The crackdown on insurgent activity expanded on September 21 with the arrest of three KCP cadres. Thoubal commandos and the 31 Assam Rifles collared 21-year-old Yumnam Ramos Singh, alias Lakpa, in the Andro area. Security forces identified him as an active member of the KCP (MFL) faction.
In Imphal East, a joint operation involving commandos, 2 JAK LI, and 8 Bihar Regiment troops bagged two members of the KCP (Apunba) outfit. Police identified the suspects as 22-year-old Ngangom Laoijinhenba Meitei, alias Khanganba, and 28-year-old Ngangom Hemba Meitei, alias Yenao, nabbed in the Lamlai Wangkheichou area.
Updated at 22nd September 2026 at 2:16pm
Beyond the insurgent sweeps, police hit back at a vehicle theft ring on September 21. A joint operation by the anti-vehicle lifting squad and Lilong police pinned down 21-year-old Md Abdul Razak, alias Churanthaba, for the theft of a Royal Enfield Meteor 350. Officers also caught 24-year-old Md Sohel Alam near the Lilong Turel Ahanbi Dam Mathak area for his role in stealing a Honda Activa. Investigators seized lock-picking gear, electronic devices, and mobile phones from the pair, who are now locked up at Lamphel Police Station.
The recovery effort stretched further that same day. Singjamei and City Police teams tracked down a stolen Maruti Eeco in Langthabal and a second Honda Activa in Sangaiyumpham Karanchi. The suspects face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, while police finalize the return of the recovered vehicles to their owners.
Updated at 22nd September 2026 at 5:50pm
Security pressure intensified in the border regions as Tengnoupal police and the Assam Rifles rounded up three People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cadres near Border Pillar-87 on September 20. The detainees include 21-year-old Ningthoujam James Singh, 25-year-old Kshetrimayum Rustan Singh, and one juvenile.
Operations in the Patton area yielded a separate, major haul of hardware. Bishnupur district police and security forces pulled an AK-47 rifle with a magazine, a country-made carbine machine gun with a magazine, and a country-made .32 pistol from the ground. The team also secured an improvised explosive device, three fragmentation grenades, one No. 36 hand grenade, and 15 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
Updated at 23rd September 2026 at 9:47am
The security dragnet reached Kakching district on September 22. A joint team from the CDO Unit and 43 Assam Rifles pinched 23-year-old Maibam Gunamani, alias Meirik Singh, of Lamjao Mayai Leikai, for his alleged membership in the PLA.
Drug enforcement also tightened the screws on transport routes. Authorities intercepted a passenger bus at Mantripukhri on September 22, pulling 20,000 suspected WY tablets weighing 2.1 kg from the vehicle. Police handcuffed 37-year-old Md. Anish Khan of Lilong Usoipokpi and 36-year-old Korimayum Nurul Haque of Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai in connection with the haul.
Separately, Lilong police hauled in 50-year-old Ghulam Sayed Azad on September 21. A search of the Nungei Ningthibi Bazar resident turned up a stash of prescription narcotics, including 208 Tramadol capsules, 583 Alprazolam capsules, and 111 Diazepam tablets.
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