Manipur Police cracks down on arms smuggling, extortion gangs; six arrested
'On June 24, we successfully cracked down on an inter-state organised gang involved in illegal arms trade. The gang had been operating clandestinely in the Greater Imphal area, smuggling unauthorized arms across different states. We have taken into custody four individuals involved in this network, including a known cadre of the United National Liberation Front (P) [UNLF (P)] faction', a senior police officer said.
According to police, the arrested individuals were found in possession of a large cache of firearms and ammunition. The officer added, 'We recovered high-end pistols including Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Glock, JD Taurus, and Beretta models, along with several loaded magazines. In total, over 150 rounds of live ammunition were seized, indicating the scale at which this group was operating.'
In a separate operation conducted the same day, three active cadres of the United National Liberation Front (P) UNLF (P) were arrested from Babupara in Imphal West.
'These individuals were extorting money from government employees and contractors, using threats to secure contract work. Their actions have spread fear among the local population', the officer said.
He confirmed that pistols, live ammunition, mobile phones, cash, and identification documents were seized during the arrests.
Also Read: Arambai Tenggol member arrested for murder amid Manipur crackdown
In Thoubal district, another suspect believed to be an active cadre of the UNLF (Ningolmacha), was arrested from the Lilong Hangamthabi area. According to officials aware of the matter, he was actively involved in extorting money from shops, individuals, and even government establishments. 'He had been issuing monetary demands across Thoubal district,' a police official said, adding that a mobile phone and personal documents had been recovered from him.
In a similar operation, police arrested a People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive [PREPAK (Pro)] (a banned underground outfit) faction operative, identified as Thoudam Johnjackson Singh, from his residence at Liwa Road, Ahongshangbam Leikai under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West.
A senior police official confirmed the arrest and stated, 'We are tracking all elements involved in subversive activities, and we will continue our crackdown on groups trying to destabilise the region.'
Police have said that all arrested individuals will be produced before the relevant courts, and investigations are underway to identify further links to arms trafficking and militant networks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Elderly man falls off scooter, gets run over by car in Pune; dies
A 61-year-old man lost his life in Pune's Aundh area after falling off his scooter allegedly due to a pothole and being subsequently run over by a car, police said on Friday. According to police officials, the elderly man fell off his scooter allegedly due to a pothole.(HT File Photo/Representative) The deceased, identified as Jagannath Kashinath Kale, was on his way home on the afternoon of July 30 when the accident occurred. According to police officials, "A 61-year-old man in Pune identified as Jagannath Kashinath Kale lost his life after falling off from his scooter allegedly due to a pothole and being run over by a passing car. The incident also captured on CCTV." The CCTV footage, which surfaced later in the week, has prompted police to initiate the process of filing a First Information Report (FIR). Authorities confirmed that investigations into the matter are ongoing and appropriate legal action will follow. According to Police, "Kale was on his way home when the accident occurred in Aundh area of Pune City. A gap between the road and nearby paving blocks had created a mid-sized pothole. His scooter slipped into the gap, causing him to lose control and fall. Moments later, a car approaching from behind ran over him." Further investigation is underway.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab Congress MP alleges threat to son's life by gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria
Gurdaspur Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is also a former deputy chief minister of Punjab, on Friday alleged that jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria had threatened to kill his son, Udhayveer Singh Randhawa. Gurdaspur Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is also a former deputy chief minister of Punjab, on Friday alleged that jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria had threatened to kill his son, Udhayveer. (HT file photo) In a post shared on X, Randhawa said: 'Jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria has threatened to kill my son. One of my associates met my son and within an hour of leaving he was fired upon today.' The Lok Sabha member, who is in Delhi for the monsoon session, refused to be intimidated and said: 'I am in Delhi for the Parliament session. No gangster can shake me.' He blamed chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal for 'turning Punjab into a gangster's paradise where law and order has totally collapsed'. The incident comes a little over a month after Bhagwanpuria's mother, Harjit Kaur, and their relative, Karanvir Singh, were shot dead at Batala in Gurdaspur district on June 26. The rival Davinder Bambiha gang took responsibility for the murder. Bhagwanpuria's relatives had named Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and his son Udhayveer in the complaint after the double murder. The gangster, who has links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, is lodged in Assam's Silchar Central Jail since March after being detained under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Since 2012, Bhagwanpuria faces 128 cases, including murders, extortion, Arms Act violations and 13 crimes under the NDPS Act. He is also suspected to be involved in the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala. Reacting to the threat, Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, 'A gangster has the audacity to threaten a senior Indian National Congress leader and a former deputy chief minister and a sitting MP, from inside the jail! Imagine the plight of common people in Punjab. They are at the mercy of gangsters. The Aam Aadmi Party has destroyed Punjab. We in the Congress will not be intimidated. As Randhawa sahab has put it simple and straight. But that does not mean that the AAP government can run away from its responsibility.'
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
25 arrested in Hisar on rioting, looting charges
Hisar police on Thursday booked 49 individuals on charges of rioting, looting and blocking roads during a protest following the death of a 23-year-old woman, allegedly due to a drug overdose. Protesters raising slogans outside the civil hospital where the autopsy of the 23-year-old girl was conducted. (HT Photo) 'Five separate FIRs at the City and Civil Lines police stations against 61 accused persons. Of them, 25 were arrested on Thursday. A local court in Hisar granted a two-day police remand to three of the accused — Sanjay Chauhan, Sonu, and Balbir,' said a senior police official. In one FIR, Sapra Hospital's ICU in-charge, Pankaj Kumar, said that he was on duty on July 30 when, around 3 pm, a 23-year-old woman who had been admitted for poisoning died. Following her death, Sanjay Chauhan, accompanied by 50–60 people including women, allegedly pelted stones at the hospital, causing panic and chaos. In another complaint, assistant sub-inspector Naveen Kumar said he and head constable Subash were at the hospital after the woman's body had been sent for post-mortem. Around 5 pm, Sanjay Chauhan allegedly instigated the woman's family and others against the police. A mob of 70–80 people reportedly pelted stones on Naveen's car, stole his laptop and official documents, and assaulted him when he tried to intervene. Based on his complaint, police booked 49 individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 115, 121(1), 126, 132, 190, 191(2), 191(3), 221, 310(2), 324(6), 352, 353(1), and 353(2). A second FIR names 35 accused under BNS sections 118(1), 352, 353(1), 353(2), 324(6), 191(3), 190, and sections 3(1) and 3(2) of the Haryana Medicare Service Persons and Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act. Police have made 25 arrests in this case. In a third FIR, Sanjay Chauhan and 30 others were booked for allegedly stopping an ambulance carrying the body of 29-year-old Honey to Maharaja Agrasen Medical College in Agroha for a post-mortem. The mob reportedly snatched the ambulance key, blocked the road, and obstructed police officials. The cases remain under investigation.
