Manipur Police arrested four active militants linked to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group)
Short Summary of the News
On July 8, 2025, Manipur Police arrested four active militants linked to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) during anti-extortion drives in Bishnupur and Imphal districts. The arrests—of cadres identified as extortion operatives—were part of a broader crackdown on insurgency-linked extortion. Authorities seized mobile phones and cash from the suspects and intensified security operations across the state, including issuing multiple traffic challans and establishing over 100 checkpoints
In‑Depth Analysis: What the KCP(PWG) Arrests Mean for Manipur
1. A Mountain of Context: Why These Arrests Matter
Think of Manipur as a pressure cooker—ethnic tensions, militancy, and politics have built steam since 2023. In this mix, banned groups like the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), in its PWG iteration, have thrived. They finance operations through extortion and operate deep underground. So when four of their members are arrested for extortion, it isn’t just legal enforcement—it’s a needle releasing steam. It signals the state is actively confronting the root networks of militancy. Cleaner roads, safer towns? It all starts here.
2. Who Were the Detainees—and What Were They Doing?
Police named the arrested cadres as:
- Laitonjam Ramakanta Meitei (34) – Self‑styled section commander, Imphal East; caught extorting in Nambol
- Thongam Herojit Singh (38) – Imphal West; detained with Meitei at Utlou, Bishnupur
- Thoudam Santosh Singh alias Henthoiba (23) – From Thoubal; arrested in Moirang Okshongbung for extorting educational institutions
- Potshangbam Jeet Meetei alias Norjit (55) – Imphal West; apprehended at Kekrupat for threatening brick kiln owners and government employees
Officers seized mobile phones, cash, and IDs—crucial tools for tracing their networks. State security said more arrests are underway
3. Why the Focus on Extortion?
Extortion isn’t petty—it fuels insurgency. These groups extort local traders, schools, transporters, often with violent intimidation. The money supports recruitment, arms, and underground logistics. Snatching even a few key operatives sends a clear warning: your racket won’t go unchecked. It’s a stride toward disrupting the financial pipelines that sustain militant violence.
4. The Bigger Security Picture in Manipur
The KCP arrests are only part of a broader police narrative:
- On July 8 alone, authorities issued 59 traffic challans worth ₹1.31 lakh and removed tinted films from 14 vehicles
- That same day saw 111 security checkpoints across hills and valleys, detaining 12 individuals and securing 235 supply vehicles along NH‑37
It’s a one‑two punch: combat insurgency and enforce everyday law. No blind eye on minor crimes—they matter too.
FAQs
1. What is the Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG)?
A Maoist-insurgent faction in Manipur, operating since 1980, banned under UAPA, and implicated in armed struggle and ethnic violence
2. Why were the four arrested militants targeted?
They orchestrated extortion rings in Bishnupur and Imphal — extorting traders, schools, kiln owners, and state employees
3. What was seized from them?
Mainly mobile phones, cash, identity documents—crucial for dismantling networks and extending investigation
4. How do these arrests fit into wider security efforts?
This fits into a multi-pronged approach combining insurgent crackdown, traffic/band laws enforcement, and intensive security deployments .
5. Will this lead to lasting peace?
It’s a start—but true resolution requires judicial follow-through, socio-economic rehabilitation, and ethnic reconciliation.
