Between October 12 and 19, security forces in Manipur intensified their counter-insurgency operations through a coordinated series of intelligence-driven raids led by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, in close collaboration with the Manipur Police and other central security agencies. The operations spanned several volatile regions across the state, including Phubala Mamang, Moirang, Top Makha Leikai, Bishnupur, Chandel, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts. These efforts resulted in the detention of four insurgent cadres affiliated with multiple valley and hill-based militant organizations and the seizure of 12 sophisticated weapons, alongside a large cache of war-like stores and protective gear.
The crackdown began on October 12, when Army personnel carried out a targeted operation in Kokilbon Leikai, Moirang, Bishnupur district. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, they detained cadres linked to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — a banned separatist organization operating in Manipur. During the search, security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle, an MP9 submachine gun, a double-barrel shotgun, a .32-caliber pistol, two live rounds, and two bulletproof plates. The recovery of these items indicated that the detained insurgents had a fully functional weapons cache, potentially intended for coordinated attacks in the region.
The following day, October 13, security forces expanded their operations into Phubala Mamang Pat in Bishnupur district. A joint team of the Army, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police uncovered another major cache, including one INSAS light machine gun (LMG) with a loaded magazine, a single-barrel rifle, a Chinese-manufactured grenade, a tube-launching cylinder, a Baofeng handheld radio set used for insurgent communication, three bulletproof helmets, four bulletproof plates, and other military-grade materials. In a concurrent raid along the Keipha Road riverbank, another team recovered an extensive array of weapons — a .303 sniper rifle, a .32 pistol, an SBBL gun, a single-barrel gun, a Sten submachine gun, two bulletproof jackets, five bulletproof plates, a telescope, and additional tactical equipment. These findings highlighted the militants’ preparedness for combat and their access to advanced weaponry sourced from both domestic and foreign suppliers.
On the same day, October 13, the Assam Rifles, in joint coordination with Imphal West Police Commandos and central security forces, conducted two separate operations in Top Makha Leikai and Lamphel Super Market. During these raids, one cadre each from the Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba) was apprehended. The two detainees were reportedly involved in extortion, recruitment, and logistical support for their respective insurgent factions operating across the Imphal valley.
In Chandel district, another major breakthrough occurred when the Assam Rifles, assisted by the Border Security Force (BSF) and local police units, launched an operation in L. Minou village. The mission resulted in the arrest of a cadre from the United National Liberation Front (Progressive) — also known as UNLF (P). During the search, the team recovered a white machine gun, further strengthening the case that multiple insurgent organizations were attempting to rearm and re-establish networks amid recent instability in Manipur’s hill districts.
The anti-insurgency momentum continued into the following week. On October 16, the Assam Rifles, supported by Thoubal Police Commandos and central forces, executed an operation in Tekcham Mayai Leikai. The team successfully detained a cadre of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Nongdrenkhomba) faction, believed to be responsible for orchestrating a series of local extortion and intimidation activities targeting civilians and small traders. His capture marked yet another success in the ongoing campaign to dismantle entrenched insurgent cells across Manipur’s valley areas.
Security officials described these joint operations as part of a sustained effort to restore law and order in Manipur amid a volatile security situation. The coordinated actions by the Army, Assam Rifles, and state police not only led to significant arms recoveries but also disrupted insurgent mobility and communication networks. Intelligence sources indicate that such operations are expected to continue over the coming weeks, with enhanced surveillance in border zones and suspected militant hideouts.
Overall, the week-long crackdown demonstrated the increasing efficiency of intelligence-sharing mechanisms among India’s armed forces and state agencies. It also underscored the government’s commitment to curbing militant activity, securing civilian areas, and dismantling insurgent infrastructure that has long fueled instability in the region.
