On Saturday, police officials in the Indian state of Manipur said they have arrested nine people in several encounters in the state, among them suspected militants and drug peddlers. The raids also took place in order to retrieve arms, ammunition and other incriminating items.
One of the persons arrested was Lalthangjohn, 38, of Khaominthangjong village in Churachandpur district in Manipur and believed to be a cadre of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B). He was arrested Thursday in the Zou Veng area. He was found with a 9mm Hawg pistol, a magazine and seven live rounds of ammunition as well as a mobile phone.
The arrest comes after a series of incidents of attacks on four villages of Naga tribals that were inhabited in Kamjong district on the India-Myanmar border.The arrest is made in the wake of escalating tension after attacks on four Naga tribal inhabited villages in Kamjong district on the India-Myanmar border. The Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long student body have accused the KNA-B militants of participating in the violence, among others. Allegedly, close to 100 armed militants entered into Indian territory from Myanmar and attacked several villages such as Namlee, Wanglee, Ashang Khullen and Aloyo, the groups said.
Local lawmaker Leishiyo Keishing called it “foreign aggression” and the state arm of the National People’s Party expressed similar concerns.
Police in separate incidents, arrested a woman cadre of banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL-SOREPA faction) from Imphal West and another active member of the underground outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL-SOREPA faction) from Imphal East.
Search and intelligence-led operations have been stepped up in various sensitive districts to control the activities of militants, movements of arms and drug sellers and trafficking in the troubled northeastern state, authorities said.