Imphal: Security forces have intensified operations against the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a prominent valley-based insurgent group in Manipur, arresting 15 cadres, including two key suspects directly linked to last month’s deadly ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy that claimed two soldiers’ lives.
Two main accused caught within 72 hours
Officials identified the arrested suspects as Thoungram Sadananda Singh alias Purakpa (18) and Khomdram Ojit Singh alias Keilal (47). Their arrest came within 72 hours of the Nambol ambush, in which Assam Rifles personnel were attacked while travelling from Patsoi to their Nambol base.
The incident occurred on September 19 in Nambol Sabal Leikai, a denotified tract where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is not in effect and road security is generally handled by the CRPF. Two Assam Rifles soldiers — Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap — were killed when their 407 Tata vehicle came under heavy gunfire.
Officials said this was the first major attack on central security forces in Manipur since ethnic violence erupted between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities in May 2023.
Crackdown widens as political links probed
Following the ambush, combined teams of the Assam Rifles, state police, and intelligence units launched coordinated search and cordon operations across the Imphal valley and adjoining areas. A van believed to have been used in the attack was later found abandoned in Mutum Yangbi, around 12 km from the ambush site.
Security agencies are also probing possible political patronage extended to the PLA. The scrutiny has intensified after another major Meitei insurgent outfit, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), recently announced a ceasefire and agreed to join the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework already signed by 24 Kuki insurgent groups with the Union Home Ministry.
Officials said that certain vested interests appear to be attempting to undermine President’s Rule in the state, a measure that has been credited with helping subdue large-scale ethnic clashes. These groups, according to sources, are pushing a narrative that the current administrative arrangement is ineffective and that the suspended state assembly should be restored immediately.
Weapons traced to 2023 ethnic clashes
During the ongoing crackdown, security forces recovered a cache of weapons and explosives, including six firearms suspected to have been looted from a police armoury during the 2023 ethnic violence. Investigators said the recovery suggests that arms originally seized during the communal conflict are now being repurposed by insurgent outfits to target security personnel.
A senior security official said the arrests have provided critical leads into the PLA’s operational network and its linkages with other valley-based militant organisations. “The recent operations mark a significant step in dismantling insurgent infrastructure and preventing a resurgence of militant activity under the guise of ethnic or political movements,” the officer added.
Focus on maintaining stability in Manipur
The fresh offensive comes as authorities aim to maintain peace in Manipur after over a year of ethnic unrest. With the UNLF’s move towards peace and the PLA’s continued defiance, officials said distinguishing between political dissent and insurgent violence has become increasingly important for sustainable stability in the region.
The arrested cadres are being interrogated jointly by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state security units to trace the funding and communication channels supporting the PLA’s operations in the valley