Security forces nab female militant operative, seize rocket and explosives in Manipur

Security forces in Manipur intensified their counter-insurgency operations on Saturday with the arrest of a woman allegedly linked to a banned militant outfit and the seizure of a large quantity of weapons in separate incidents.

Police in Imphal East district apprehended Khangembam Auna Devi alias Ibeyaima (43) from the Sawombung Forest Gate area for her alleged role in aiding the insurgent outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA is a banned militant organization that has operated in Manipur for decades, seeking the state’s secession from India through armed struggle. Authorities said Auna Devi functioned as a local operative for the group, tasked with identifying, influencing, and recruiting new cadres often targeting individuals from vulnerable and economically disadvantaged communities. Officials added that such grassroots recruitment networks are crucial to sustaining the outfit’s activities despite ongoing security operations in the region.

Security experts note that insurgent organisations often deploy women cadres because they attract less suspicion , can access civilian spaces more easily, and are sometimes more effective in recruitment and logistics roles. In conflict-affected regions, economic hardship, displacement, personal grievances, and prolonged violence can push women toward militancy. The rising number of such cases is viewed as both a tactical shift by armed groups and a sign of deeper social distress.

In a separate operation the same day, security personnel recovered a significant cache of arms from the Old Nabil area east of Thangjing Top under Henglep police station limits in Churachandpur district. The haul included a seven-foot country-made rocket, about 60 kilograms of explosives , a single-barrel rifle, four magazines, and two mortars.

Officials said the twin operations highlight ongoing efforts to dismantle militant networks and prevent future attacks in the violence-hit state. Investigations are underway to determine the source of the weapons and any broader links to insurgent groups operating in the region.