A Quick Action Team’s vehicle windshield damaged by bullets fired by alleged armed militants is seen inside a relief camp at a police station for displaced Meiteis after their homes and shops were set ablaze, in Borobekra, Jiribam in Manipur. File photo
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Suspected militants launched fresh attack in the Kadangband area of Manipur’s Imphal West district in the early hours of Wednesday on New Year day (January 1, 2024) police said.

Also read: On New Year’s Eve, Manipur CM says sorry for violence

Militants from their hill positions in Kangpokpi district fired several rounds from sophisticated arms and hurled bombs at the low-lying Kadangband area in Imphal West district around 1 am, a police officer said.

Village volunteers deployed in the area returned the fire even as additional security forces were rushed to the area to control the situation. No injuries were reported in the firing, the police said.

The attack forced several villagers living in Kutcha homes to flee to safer places, they said.

Kadangband area has witnessed several attacks by suspected militants since violence broke out in the state in May 2023.

Arms seized in Bishnupur and Thoubal districts

Meanwhile, Security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur’s Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, a police statement said on Wednesday (January 1, 2025).

From Thongkhonglok village in Bishnupur district, security forces on Tuesday (December 31, 2024) seized one SLR with a magazine, one .303 rifle, one 12 bore single barrel gun, two 9mm pistol with magazine, one anti-riot gun, two INSAS LMG magazine, two INSAS rifle magazine, four hand grenades, one detonator, five anti-riot shell, ammunition and other articles, the statement said.

The security forces seized one anti material rifle (AMR) sniper modified with sight scope and magazine, two single bolt action rifle, three 9mm pistol (country made), one hand grenade, four MK-13T, and ammunition from Leishangthem Ikop Pat area of Thoubal district, it said.

The police had earlier arrested a member of the banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) involved in extortion from Mantripukhri Bazaar near Bengali crossing in Imphal East district on Tuesday.

One 9mm pistol with magazine, two money receipts of KCP (PWG) and other articles were seized from his possession, the police said.