IMPHAL: Manipur police, on Friday (March 29), informed that it arrested two suspected militants from different underground groups and recovered of a cache of warlike weapons, including 20 hand grenades, in a series of operations conducted over the past 48 hours in the Imphal West district.

According to officials, the arrest of an active cadre belonging to the proscribed outfit PREPAK (Pro), identified as Chongtham Ronen Singh (35), led to the apprehension of another cadre affiliated with the banned KCP (Noyon), later identified as Laishram Momo, also known as Kiran or Macha Meitei, aged 31.

Both individuals were charged with extortion of money from government offices and businessmen in the Imphal area of Manipur.

Following their disclosures, the Manipur police initiated follow-up actions at the foothills of Pangei in the Imphal East district of the state, leading to the recovery of several weapons.

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The recovered items included a country-made rifle with one empty magazine, one 9mm SMG carbine with one empty magazine, one pistol with one empty magazine, 20 HE-hand grenades without detonators, and six 51 mm HE mortar ammunition rounds.

The arrested suspects and seized items were subsequently handed over to the relevant police station for further necessary actions, as per Manipur police sources.