Security forces have arrested an active cadre of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during separate counter-insurgency operations in Manipur, officials said on Wednesday.
According to security sources, the operations were carried out in different parts of the state as part of ongoing efforts to curb militant activities and restore normalcy in violence-hit regions. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, joint teams of the police, Army, and central security forces launched coordinated searches in vulnerable areas known for the presence of insurgent groups.
During one such operation, an active PLA member was apprehended from Imphal East district. Preliminary investigations suggest that the individual was allegedly involved in the activities of the proscribed outfit, including recruitment and logistical support. Security agencies are currently interrogating the arrested cadre to gather further information about the group's network and operations in the region.
In a separate search operation, security personnel recovered a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and war-like stores hidden in a forested area. The seized cache reportedly included firearms, explosives, ammunition, and other military-grade equipment suspected to have been stockpiled by insurgent elements. Officials believe the recovery has dealt a significant blow to the operational capabilities of militant groups active in the state.
The recovered weapons have been handed over to the relevant authorities for forensic examination and further investigation. Security agencies are working to determine the origin of the arms and identify individuals linked to their storage and transportation.
Manipur has witnessed a series of intelligence-based operations in recent months as security forces intensify efforts to dismantle insurgent networks and prevent the movement of illegal arms. Authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of recovering looted and illegally possessed weapons to improve the security situation in the state.
Officials said search operations and area domination exercises continue across sensitive districts, particularly in hill and valley regions, to prevent militant activities and ensure the safety of civilians. Additional checkpoints and patrols have also been established in strategic locations to monitor movement and maintain law and order.
Security forces reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Manipur, adding that coordinated operations against insurgent groups and illegal arms networks will continue. Further investigations are underway to establish links between the arrested PLA cadre and the recovered weapons cache, while authorities remain on alert against any potential security threats in the region.
