Security forces in Manipur carried out a series of coordinated counter-insurgency operations between January 3 and 4, 2026, leading to the recovery of a significant cache of firearms, explosives and equipment, along with the arrest of several active militant cadres from different districts of the state.
On January 4, security personnel conducted an operation at Yairipok Top Ningthounai Lai Ching under Andro Police Station in Imphal East district. During the search, forces seized a substantial haul of weapons and explosives, including a self-loading rifle with a magazine, a single-barrel gun, a 9 mm pistol with magazine, a .32 pistol with magazine, and a .32 automatic pistol along with two magazines. Explosive materials recovered from the site included two improvised explosive devices, two No. 36 hand grenades and one Chinese-made hand grenade, along with 37 live rounds of ammunition. Additional items such as a raincoat, a sleeping bed kit and a foldable tent were also found at the location.
A day earlier, on January 3, another major recovery was made at Lanchingmanbi in Chingphei village under Henglep Police Station in Churachandpur district. Security forces recovered a rocket containing approximately 100 kilograms of explosives, a sniper rifle fitted with a telescopic daylight scope, two country-made single-barrel breech-loading guns, a 9 mm pistol with magazine, five rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, ten 12-bore cartridges and an improvised explosive device weighing around three kilograms.
In a separate operation on the same day at Kangaching Tellou under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East district, forces seized two .32 bore pistols with magazines, a high-explosive mortar bomb, two No. 36 hand grenades and 91 live rounds of ammunition of various calibers. The recovery also included two .303 light machine gun magazines, a Baofeng wireless communication set, seven bulletproof plates, a bulletproof helmet, a pistol holster and a grenade.
Alongside the recoveries, security forces arrested three militant cadres on January 4. Laishram Kullabi Meitei, also known as Ronel, a 35-year-old cadre of the RPF/PLA from Liwa Road Kha Maibam Leikai in Imphal West district, was taken into custody, with two mobile phones seized from his possession. Tensubam Bangkim Singh, aged 25, also known by the aliases Chak-thekpa and Mangang Punshiba, a cadre of the KCP (Taibanganba) group from Nambol Leitonjam Makha Leikai in Bishnupur district, was arrested with a 9 mm pistol, four live rounds and a mobile phone. Another RPF/PLA cadre, 19-year-old Mahesh Sarangthem from Kairembikhok Maiyai Leikai in Thoubal district, was arrested from his residence.
Authorities said the operations were part of ongoing efforts to curb militant activity in Manipur and to prevent potential threats to public safety. Security agencies reiterated that such coordinated actions would continue as part of their strategy to neutralize armed groups and maintain law and order across the state.
