New Delhi: Manipur Police have arrested three people in connection with an October 19 attack at Sunulok Hill that killed three firewood collectors and injured three others. Security forces have also recovered 12 firearms, 1,095 rounds of ammunition and a large cache of explosives during intensified operations across the state.
The arrests followed intelligence based searches conducted by joint teams of Manipur Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA personnel in areas under Sagolmang Police Station in Imphal East district. Two of the accused reportedly admitted during preliminary interrogation to being part of the team involved in the attack, while investigators are examining the role of the third suspect and searching for others allegedly linked to the incident.
The recovered weapons included an INSAS rifle, an M16 rifle, an AK series or Type 81 rifle, a 7.62 mm sniper rifle, a Heckler and Koch rifle, several 12 bore guns and a handmade rocket launcher. Explosives seized included TNT slabs, locally manufactured bombs, rifle grenades, a hand grenade, handmade mortars and detonators. Police also recovered ammunition, radio sets, helmets, uniforms and other materials.
The attack near the Imphal East and Kangpokpi district boundary sparked protests, with demonstrators bringing the victims’ bodies to the Chief Minister’s bungalow in Imphal and demanding immediate action. Concerns over civilian safety and renewed tensions between Meitei and Kuki communities have increased following the killings.
In a separate operation near Sinai camp on Tuesday morning, joint security teams detained 17 people for identity verification after their details did not match the listed cadres associated with the Kuki National Organisation and the Kuki Liberation Army. Authorities are also checking reports of missing ammunition and magazines from the camp.
Meanwhile, a separate combing operation in the Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham areas resulted in two arrests after security personnel searched around 146 houses and verified more than 300 people. One double barrel gun was seized for forensic examination.
Police said investigations were continuing to establish the circumstances of the attacks and identify further suspects. Residents were urged to maintain peace, avoid spreading unverified information on social media and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
