Assam Rifles, Army Neutralise 27 IEDs in Manipur; Three Militants, Suspected Drug Peddler Held

An intelligence-led operation lasting 48 hours was conducted by Assam Rifles and Indian Army bomb disposal teams along an eight-kilometre stretch of the Shangkhalok-Pilong route in the hill district. The explosives, concealed in bushes along the route, were detected and safely neutralised, a defence spokesman said.

The operation helped prevent potential disruptions to security and ensured safer movement for local communities in the border region, the spokesman added. Sniffer dogs and specialised electronic equipment were deployed to locate the explosive devices.

The operation comes amid continuing security challenges in Manipur’s hill districts, particularly those bordering Myanmar. Kamjong is among five districts that share a combined 398-kilometre-long unfenced international border with Myanmar, along with Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel and Ukhrul.

In separate operations, security forces arrested three alleged militants affiliated with the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). The arrests were made in Imphal East district, officials said.

Security personnel also apprehended a suspected drug peddler identified as Ngamkhojang Kipgen, 35, a resident of Tuidam village in Churachandpur district. He was allegedly carrying 785 grams of brown sugar concealed in 60 soap cases.

In another operation, a joint team of Manipur Police and central security forces conducted a search near the Waishen River under Wangoi police station in Imphal West district following intelligence inputs.

The team recovered a 7.62-mm self-loading rifle with a magazine, a single-barrel breech-loading firearm, nine assorted live rounds of ammunition and three wireless communication sets, a police official said.

The recovered weapons, ammunition and communication equipment are being examined as part of efforts to identify and dismantle militant networks operating in the state.

Security forces continue to conduct search operations and area-domination exercises across Manipur, particularly in fringe, mixed-population and vulnerable areas. The operations aim to curb militant activity, recover illegal weapons and ammunition, and strengthen security for civilians in the violence-affected state.