Five militants arrested in Manipur; CM condemns bomb attack on BJP MLA’s residence

Imphal, Aug 28 (AHN) Security forces, in separate joint operations conducted across different districts of Manipur, have arrested five militants belonging to various banned outfits during the past 24 hours, officials said here on Friday.

A police official said that the five militants were apprehended in Imphal West, Imphal East and Kakching districts during coordinated operations conducted by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and other Central forces. The arrested militants belong to the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing, the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).

According to the police official, the arrested militants were reportedly involved in various crimes and illegal activities, including attacks on people, kidnapping, forcible collection of “subscriptions” and recruitment of youths into the banned outfits.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday visited the residence of former Minister and sitting BJP MLA Sapam Ranjan Singh at Konthoujam Mayai Leikai in Imphal West district following a bomb blast at his residence earlier in the day.

The Chief Minister later, in a post on social media, strongly condemned the attack. “I strongly condemn such a senseless and barbaric attack on the residence of a people's representative. “This act of violence is an attack on our democracy, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon,” the Chief Minister said.

According to the MLA, the incident occurred early on Friday morning when he was present at his residence. The bomb exploded in the backyard of the house, leaving a small crater on the ground and causing minor damage to the walls of the compound.

Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, security forces comprising the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Manipur Police have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations, including search operations and area-domination exercises, in fringe, mixed-population and other vulnerable areas across the state.

As part of the intensified security measures, 111 nakas and checkpoints have been set up across the valley and hill districts to monitor the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.

The security forces have also been providing armed escorts to trucks and other vehicles carrying essential commodities along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).

Strict security arrangements and convoy protection continue to remain in place along vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles, the officials said.