Suspected militants opened fire in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, escalating tensions but causing no injuries. Security forces launched major operations, arrested militants, seized arms, and recovered drugs as authorities intensified crackdowns to restore peace and stability.
Tensions escalated in Manipur’s Bishnupur district late Tuesday night after suspected militants opened fire in peripheral areas, prompting an immediate security response. Officials confirmed that although multiple rounds were fired, no injuries were reported, offering limited relief amid an already volatile security situation in the state.
According to senior police officials, the firing occurred near the Torbung and Phougakchao Ikhai areas of Bishnupur district, which shares a sensitive border with Churachandpur district. The region is known for its mixed population and has remained under heightened surveillance due to recurring security concerns linked to ethnic unrest and militant activity.
Security sources said that unidentified armed individuals fired several rounds near the foothills, triggering panic among local residents. The sudden gunfire caused fear, especially among families who had recently returned to their homes after being displaced by earlier violence. Residents reported hearing gunshots echoing through nearby villages, forcing many to remain indoors overnight.
A large contingent of security forces, led by senior police and paramilitary officials, was immediately deployed to the affected areas. Joint teams launched extensive search and cordon operations to track down the perpetrators. Area domination exercises were also intensified to prevent further incidents and reassure civilians.
Officials noted that the firing incident occurred just a day after around 390 displaced persons from 1,706 families had returned to their homes in Phougakchao Ikhai and surrounding localities. Their return was part of a phased rehabilitation effort following months of ethnic clashes that had forced thousands to flee their villages. The fresh incident has raised concerns about the safety of returnees and the fragile peace process in the region.
While investigations into Tuesday night’s firing are ongoing, security agencies have simultaneously intensified counter-insurgency operations across Manipur. In the past 24 hours alone, joint operations by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, and central security forces resulted in the arrest of five militants belonging to two banned outfits.
A Manipur Police spokesperson confirmed that the arrested militants were associated with the outlawed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). The arrests were made from multiple locations across Bishnupur, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts, following intelligence-based operations.
Authorities revealed that the apprehended militants were actively involved in extortion activities, forcibly collecting money from contractors, government employees, traders, and even ordinary citizens. Several mobile phones and other incriminating materials were seized during the arrests, which are expected to aid further investigations into militant networks operating in the state.
In a separate operation, security personnel arrested a drug peddler identified as Suimi Awungshi, a 53-year-old resident of Kamjong district, from Imphal East. Officials recovered approximately one kilogram of brown sugar from his possession. The estimated market value of the seized narcotics is around Rs 20 lakh. Authorities believe the drug trade is increasingly being used to finance militant activities in the region.
Security forces also recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during combing operations in Thoubal and Imphal East districts. The recovered weapons include an SMG carbine, a .303 rifle, six single-barrel breech-loading guns, three 12-bore guns, two modified .303 rifles, five pistols, and two 36HE hand grenades. Large quantities of assorted ammunition were also seized.
Officials stated that intelligence-based cordon and search operations are being carried out extensively across the Imphal Valley and adjoining hill districts. The focus remains on dismantling militant infrastructure, curbing extortion networks, and preventing further acts of violence in vulnerable and fringe areas.
Both Union and state security forces continue to maintain a high level of alert across Manipur, particularly in mixed-population zones that have witnessed repeated tensions. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel, and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
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As investigations continue, officials said additional details regarding the firing incident in Bishnupur are awaited. Meanwhile, the government has reiterated its commitment to restoring long-term peace, ensuring the safety of civilians, and strengthening law and order across the conflict-affected regions of Manipur.
