Massive crackdown in Manipur against Meitei radical group; 26 held

Various security forces in Manipur have launched massive crackdowns against the militants on Friday with as many as 26 cadres of the Meitei radical groups apprehended, officials said.

Police said that protests broke out across Manipur’s valley districts on Friday following the arrest of village volunteers and members of the Arambai Tengol, a Meitei radical group, in Kakching district.

Demanding release of the detainees, demonstrators including women took to the streets, burning tyres and blocking roads in several areas to express their outrage against the security forces' actions.

A police official said that the security forces after arresting the Arambai Tengol cadres swiftly took them into their camp.

The arrests came just a day after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla issued a stern warning, urging people to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held arms and ammunition within a week.

The Governor had cautioned that strict action would be taken against violators once the deadline expired. Protests by men and women were reported in multiple districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Kakching.

In Imphal, demonstrators forced the closure of markets and roadside shops in key locations including Wangkhei, Uripok, Thangmeiband, Kongba, Canchipur and Khurai.

The situation remains tense, with security forces closely monitoring developments across the valley districts to prevent further escalation. There was also a protest in Imphal by women activists demanding revocation of President’s Rule and release of village volunteers.

Meanwhile, in a series of joint intelligence-based operations in Manipur's six districts, the Army, the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police apprehended 16 militants of different outfits and recovered 23 weapons and ammunition from them in the hill and valley areas in Manipur.

A Defence spokesperson said that the intensive joint operations were conducted in Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Jiribam and Kakching districts on Wednesday and Thursday and recovered 23 arms and many ammunition in these districts comprising hills and valleys. The militants arrested belonged to Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) (KCP-PWG) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) outfits.

All the arrested 16 militants belonging to KCP-PWG and KYKL outfits along with the recovered arms and ammunition have been handed over to the Manipur Police.