Five suspected militants held near Moreh close to international border

Security forces have arrested five suspected militants near the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, highlighting the persistent insurgency that has intensified following the ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities.

According to police, the arrested individuals are affiliated with banned valley-based insurgent outfits the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) , the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) , and the Kangleipak Communist Party (MFL faction) . These groups are primarily composed of Meitei militants and have historically operated in the Imphal Valley, advocating secession from India or greater autonomy.

The arrests were made on Sunday in the Moreh police station jurisdiction, between Border Pillars 73 and 75 a sensitive stretch along the international boundary that has long served as a corridor for cross-border movement of militants, weapons, and contraband.

Manipur has witnessed a sharp deterioration in security since May 2023, when ethnic violence erupted between the predominantly valley-based Meiteis and the hill-dwelling Kuki-Zo tribes. The conflict fractured communities along ethnic lines, triggered mass displacement, and created conditions that insurgent groups have sought to exploit. While Kuki armed groups dominate parts of the hill districts, Meitei insurgent outfits remain active in valley areas and border zones.

In a separate operation, security personnel recovered a significant cache of weapons and explosives from the Boljang Hill Range in the same district. The haul included eight improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a pistol with magazine, an improvised mortar, two radio communication sets, and nine live rounds of ammunition of varying calibres. Bomb disposal teams safely neutralized the IEDs at the site following standard protocols.

Authorities say such recoveries indicate ongoing attempts by militant networks to regroup and sustain armed activities despite intensified counter-insurgency operations. Security forces have stepped up surveillance along border areas, particularly around Moreh, a strategic trading town that has also emerged as a flashpoint in the state’s prolonged crisis.

Officials reiterated that coordinated operations will continue to prevent the resurgence of insurgent violence and to stabilize the region.