Four militants arrested in Manipur for extortion, poppy farms destroyed

Security forces arrested four militants linked to different banned outfits in Manipur for alleged extortion, police said on Saturday. A woman cadre of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army was detained from her residence in Tera Loukrakpam area of Imphal West district on Friday. Police recovered extortion money of Rs 1 lakh from her possession.

In Bishnupur district, a 22-year-old member of the banned Prepak (Pro) outfit was arrested from Phoijing Tera Makhong, and another active cadre of the same group was held from Karang Maning area. A 31-year-old member of the outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) was also arrested from Wangoo Ahallup area.

In separate anti-narcotics operations, a combined team of security forces and the forest department destroyed about 55 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district and around 10 acres in Churachandpur district. Temporary huts, fertiliser bags, sprayers and other farming materials used for illegal cultivation were also demolished.

Police said the operations are part of ongoing efforts to curb militant extortion and drug cultivation in the state.