Manipur: Two KCP Cadres Arrested — Cache of Weapons & Explosives Seized

Security forces in Manipur arrested two alleged cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba) from Lilong Chajing Mamang Leikai (under Singjamei Police Station) in Imphal West. The arrested persons — identified as Angom Silky Devi (22) and Oinam Niranjit Singh @ Alex (21) — were detained for alleged involvement in extortion and youth recruitment. Follow-up searches, based on information from the detainees, led to the recovery of a sizeable cache: an SLR rifle, a modified .303 rifle (without a bolt), single-barrelled rifles, a revolver, a .22 pistol, several rounds of ammunition, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bulletproof vests, Baofeng radios and other material — all handed over to the concerned police stations for further legal action.

Security forces arrested two alleged members of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba) from Lilong Chajing Mamang Leikai in Imphal West. The names released by police are Angom Silky Devi (22) and Oinam Niranjit Singh, alias Alex (21). During the initial arrest, two mobile phones were recovered. Acting on information gleaned from the arrested persons, security personnel launched a follow-up operation in Sekmai Pangantabi (under Sekmai Police Station) where they recovered a substantial weapons cache: one 7.62mm SLR rifle with a magazine, a modified .303 rifle without a bolt plus a magazine, four single-barrelled rifles, one revolver, a .22 pistol with a magazine, two improvised explosive devices, ammunition rounds of various calibres, four bulletproof vests, ten barrel cartridges, two Baofeng handheld radios, and four bags. The items and suspects were handed over to the relevant police stations for legal action.

The seized weapons — what do they tell us?

A weapons list can sound like dry inventory — but read between the lines and it tells a story:

Baofeng radios and bulletproof vests: These show organizational capability — not just rogue individuals but coordinated teams that planned and communicated.

SLR (7.62) and .303 rifle (modified without bolt): These suggest access to military-grade and vintage weaponry. The modification on a .303 and the absence of a bolt could point to attempts at concealment, transport, or field modification.

Single-barrelled rifles, revolver, .22 pistol: These are often used in localized attacks or intimidation; they’re cheaper and easier to move.

IEDs and varied ammunition: The presence of IEDs is alarming — that’s a step beyond small-arms violence and into weapons designed to cause mass damage or hold territory.

FAQs

Q1: Who were the two people arrested and where were they caught?
A1: The detainees were named as Angom Silky Devi (22) and Oinam Niranjit Singh @ Alex (21); they were arrested from Lilong Chajing Mamang Leikai under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West.

Q2: Exactly what weapons and materials were recovered?
A2: Police reported recovering a 7.62 SLR rifle with magazine, a modified .303 rifle (without a bolt) with magazine, four single-barrel rifles, a revolver, a .22 pistol with magazine, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ammunition of various calibres, four bulletproof vests, ten barrel cartridges, two Baofeng handheld radios, and several bags.

Q3: Are these seizures part of a wider security push in Manipur?
A3: Yes — in recent months joint teams of state police and central forces have carried out coordinated raids and recovered substantial weapon caches across valley and hill districts, indicating an intelligence-led effort to dismantle multiple arms supply nodes.

Q4: What immediate threats do these recovered items pose to civilians?
A4: The presence of IEDs and military-grade rifles increases the risk of mass-casualty incidents and targeted attacks. Recovering such items reduces immediate risk, but it also highlights the need for careful ordnance disposal and follow-up intelligence to prevent retaliation or quick redistribution.

Q5: How can communities reduce recruitment and extortion by prohibited outfits?
A5: Communities can help by promoting reporting of suspicious activity, supporting youth employment and education initiatives, backing local de-radicalization programs, and advocating for transparent law-enforcement that pairs arrests with social programs to prevent re-recruitment.