Security forces have arrested six suspected militants, including a minor, in Manipur’s Imphal Valley in connection with alleged cases of extortion, kidnapping and intimidation, police said on Wednesday.

The arrests were made during separate operations conducted across Bishnupur, Imphal East and Imphal West districts on Tuesday. According to officials, all six suspects are allegedly associated with the banned United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), an insurgent organisation operating in Manipur.

The arrests come amid continued security operations aimed at curbing militant activities, illegal extortion and other forms of armed intimidation in the State. Authorities have been carrying out intelligence-based searches and cordon-and-search operations in several districts to identify suspected members of insurgent groups and recover illegally held weapons.

Six suspected UPPK cadres detained

Police said the six individuals were apprehended from different locations in the Imphal Valley. One of those arrested was identified as 51-year-old P. Koireng Singh, who was detained from the Koirengei Forest Gate area of Imphal West.

According to an official statement, Singh works as a gardener, or ‘mali’, in the State Forest Department. His alleged association with the banned outfit is now part of the investigation being conducted by security agencies.

Authorities also recovered 23 letterheads bearing the name of the UPPK from the possession of the arrested individuals. Investigators suspect that such documents may have been connected to the group’s alleged extortion and intimidation activities.

Police said the arrested suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in kidnapping, extortion and intimidation during questioning. The allegations will be examined further as the investigation progresses.

One of the six detainees is a minor. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the minor’s identity, in accordance with legal protections applicable to children involved in criminal investigations.

Alleged extortion and kidnapping activities under investigation

Extortion and intimidation have remained significant security concerns in Manipur, where several armed groups have historically been accused of raising funds through demands for money from individuals, businesses and other sections of society.

In the latest case, investigators are examining whether the arrested UPPK cadres were directly involved in threatening people, demanding money or participating in kidnapping-related activities.

The seizure of UPPK letterheads is expected to form part of the evidence being examined by investigators. Officials are also likely to establish the individual roles of the six suspects and determine whether they were acting independently or as part of a wider network.

The arrests are therefore significant not only because of the number of suspects detained but also because investigators are attempting to establish the operational and financial activities allegedly linked to the banned organisation.

Weapons recovered during separate security operation

In a separate operation conducted on Tuesday, security forces recovered weapons and ammunition from areas around Taphou Kuki in Kangpokpi district and adjoining Taphou Liangmai in Senapati district.

The operation was jointly conducted by the Manipur Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as part of a cordon-and-search exercise.

Security personnel recovered two single-barrel, breech-loading (SBBL) guns and 78 rounds of 12-bore ammunition. Empty cases associated with AK-47 and .22-calibre ammunition were also found during the operation.

The recovery adds another dimension to the ongoing security campaign in the State, where authorities have continued to search vulnerable areas for illegal weapons and militant infrastructure.

Three bunkers destroyed

During the same operation, security forces also destroyed three bunkers believed to have been used as security or operational positions.

Two bunkers were demolished in Taphou Kuki, while another was destroyed in neighbouring Taphou Liangmai. The action was carried out as part of efforts to dismantle suspected militant infrastructure and prevent the use of such positions for armed activities.

Officials said further investigation is underway into the recovered weapons as well as the activities of the arrested UPPK cadres.

Investigators are expected to examine whether there are links between the suspects arrested in the Imphal Valley and the weapons and bunkers recovered from the Kangpokpi-Senapati areas. At this stage, authorities have not publicly established such a connection.

Security operations continue across Manipur

The latest arrests and recoveries underline the continuing security challenges faced by Manipur, where authorities have been conducting operations against armed groups and criminal networks.

The State has witnessed prolonged ethnic and political tensions in recent years, accompanied by the proliferation of illegal weapons and the emergence of armed groups in several areas. Security agencies have consequently intensified searches, arrests and weapons-recovery operations in an effort to contain militant activity.

The authorities have also been focusing on activities such as extortion, criminal intimidation and kidnapping, which can undermine public confidence and create additional security risks for residents.

In the present case, the investigation will determine the precise nature of the six suspects’ alleged activities and whether additional individuals are involved.

For now, police have confirmed that the six suspected UPPK cadres remain under investigation, while the seized documents, firearms and ammunition are being examined as part of the broader security probe.