Imphal, 06 October (HS): Security forces and Manipur Police have arrested several militants and recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and explosives during multiple operations conducted across the state in the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

According to statements issued by the Manipur Police Headquarters, a joint team of CDO/Imphal East, Andro Police Station and security forces arrested 23-year-old Mohammad Shamsuduha alias Eton from Thambalnu Market in Imphal East. The arrest was made on the basis of specific intelligence in connection with an FIR registered at Andro Police Station.

The accused has been alleged to be involved in the illegal procurement and sale of arms, ammunition and explosives. Preliminary investigation revealed that in July 2026, he had supplied a hand grenade through two women to an associate for sale for ₹10,000. He was handed over to Andro Police Station for further legal action.

In another operation, a joint team of Henglep Police Station and security forces conducted a search operation in the Kukimun village area based on intelligence inputs. The team recovered two 9-mm CMGs, three 9-mm pistols with magazines, seven single-barrel bolt-action guns, five live rounds of 0.22-mm ammunition, two improvised mortars, one No. 36 hand grenade and one mortar bomb. The recovered items were seized and handed over to Henglep Police Station.

Meanwhile, security forces arrested cadres of the militant outfit PREPAK (PRO), allegedly involved in recruitment and trafficking of newly recruited cadres to Myanmar. On October 4, a joint team of the CDO Unit, Kakching, conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Sora Bazaar and arrested active PREPAK (PRO) cadre Mohammad Siddiqui, 26. A silver-coloured Maruti Eeco van bearing registration number AS-12AE-8287 and a fake Aadhaar card were recovered from his possession.

Investigation revealed that Siddiqui allegedly arranged fake Aadhaar cards for newly recruited cadres and transported them to Myanmar using the seized vehicle.

In a subsequent operation, the joint team intercepted a black Thar vehicle bearing registration number AS-01GW-6411 at Kakching Lamkhai and arrested its driver, identified as 45-year-old Shekhar. Police said he was an active member of PREPAK (PRO) and had allegedly been tasked with transporting newly recruited cadres to Myanmar. The arrested persons and seized items were handed over to Kakching Police Station for further legal action.

In another operation on October 4, CDO/Imphal East conducted an operation at Sora Bazaar in Kakching based on intelligence inputs and arrested 23-year-old Hafiz Tapsir, a resident of Bengun Awang Leikai in Mayang Imphal.

Ten soap cases containing suspected heroin No. 4, ₹41,000 in cash and a Honda Activa scooter were recovered from his possession. Preliminary investigation revealed that he had allegedly procured the heroin from Moreh for Rs 4 lakh on the instructions of an associate from Thoubal and was transporting it to Imphal for further delivery.

The accused and the seized items were handed over to Kakching Police Station for necessary legal action.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash