13 militants were arrested and 23 weapons recovered during joint operations in Manipur by the Army and security forces across five districts. The crackdown reflects ongoing efforts to restore peace following ethnic violence, with high-level reviews by BSF leadership reinforcing commitment to law and order.
A total of 13 militants from various extremist groups were arrested and 23 weapons recovered in a series of coordinated joint operations conducted by the Army, central, and state security forces across Manipur. Officials confirmed the successful outcomes of the operations on Monday, underscoring the relentless efforts to restore peace in the violence-affected northeastern state.
Defence spokesperson Lt Col Amit Shukla said that the militants apprehended belonged to various hill and valley-based insurgent outfits. These well-planned operations were executed across five districts—Kangpokpi, Senapati, Imphal East, Imphal West, and Thoubal—over the past few days.
The operations led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition, which included Self Loading Rifles (SLRs), a .303 rifle, double-barrel breech-loading shotguns, bolt-action rifles, improvised mortars, pull mechanism rifles, and 9mm pistols. Several grenades and other war-like stores were also seized during these raids.
Lt Col Shukla stated that the arrested militants and confiscated weapons have been handed over to the Manipur Police for further investigation and necessary legal procedures. He also emphasized that these operations exemplify the strong coordination among the armed forces and their dedication to maintaining law and order in the region.
Since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur on May 3, 2023, the state has witnessed a turbulent law and order situation. In response, the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs deployed multiple battalions of the Army and Assam Rifles to the state. They were joined by large contingents from other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
Adding further momentum to these efforts, BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary conducted a two-day visit to Manipur on May 24 and 25. During his visit, the DG held high-level meetings with key officials, including Manipur’s Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, to review the prevailing security conditions.
The BSF spokesman noted that the DG also addressed BSF officers and troopers stationed across the state through a “Sainik Sammelan” held at the sector headquarters in Koirengei. The session, conducted via video conference, served to boost the morale of the deployed personnel and acknowledge their tireless commitment to preserving peace in the region.
These recent operations and leadership visits signal the government’s continued resolve to crack down on militant activities and reinforce peace in Manipur, which remains crucial to the stability of the Northeast region.
