3 PLA cadres among 8 arrested with explosives in Manipur

Three cadres of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were arrested with three IEDs and 2.47 kg of TNT in separate operations in Imphal East district, police said on Saturday.
According to police, the arrested cadres were allegedly planning IED blasts targeting businessmen in Imphal areas. They were identified as Phanjoubam Rabi Meitei @ Luwangamba (28), Md Ruwaj Arif @ Babool (23), and Md Abdul Hakim @ Inaocha (35). The arrests were made on March 26, and timers and detonators were also recovered from their possession.
The trio were among eight cadres of different armed groups apprehended by police and security forces in counter-insurgency operations across the state in the past 48 hours, police said in its daily law and order update.
Two more PLA cadres were arrested on March 27 in separate operations. One, identified as Chongtham Nanao Singh @ Khunou (29) of Kakching Khunou, was apprehended near the India-Myanmar border under Moreh police station in Tengnoupal district. The other, Chingakham Nongpoknganba Meitei (21) of Takhel Awang Leikai, was nabbed during an operation under Lamlai police station in Imphal East.
Security forces also arrested one cadre each of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) from between BP 73 and 74 under Moreh police station. They were identified as Angom Lemba Meitei @ Liklaingamba (26) of Moirang Kampu, Imphal East, and Yumnam Boni Meitei @ Yaitamba (42) of Kachikhun, Imphal West.
An active cadre of the United National Liberation Front (P) faction, currently under ceasefire truce, was also apprehended from his residence at Thangmeiband, Imphal West. Identified as Thongam Premjit Singh (49), he is accused in a 2022 FIR linked to a bomb explosion at Sagolband Takhellambam Leikai.
Meanwhile, in continued search operations across vulnerable areas, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from Moidangpok Khunou under Patsoi police station, Imphal West.
The cache included three locally made bolt-action single barrel guns, two pistols with magazines, one two-inch mortar, anti-riot cartridges, 7.62 mm rounds, a BP vest, a green belt, and two bags. The recovered items were handed over to the concerned police station for further proceedings.