Two militants were arrested in separate operations in Manipur's Imphal East district, police said on Wednesday.

An active member of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) was arrested from Top Khongnangkhong on Tuesday, he said. He has been identified as Yengkhom Bhogen Singh (50).

A member of the banned Kangleipak ​​Communist Party (MFL) identified as Pukhrambam Thoiba Singh (38) was arrested from the Mantripukhri market, police said.

Arms and ammunition recovered from 4 districts of Manipur

The Indian Army, in several successful joint operations with police and other security forces, recovered arms, ammunition and war materials from the hilly and valley areas of four districts of Manipur, including Churachandpur, an official release said.

"The Indian Army, in collaboration with Manipur Police and other security forces, in several successful joint operations recovered 12 caches of weapons, ammunition and war material from the hilly and valley areas of Thoubal, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal districts of Manipur," the release issued on Tuesday said.

According to the release, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police carried out operations based on intelligence-based information at Mongjang village in Churachandpur district on January 11, Phayeng Hill in Kangpokpi district on January 13, Nepali Basti 6km north of Kotlen village in Kangpokpi district on January 14, Zero Point – P1 Railway Site Road, Salam Patong village and Veitho in Thoubal district and recovered carbine machine guns, single bore barrel rifles, AKs, pistols, grenades, ammunition and war materials.

The weapons and other items recovered in the joint operation have been handed over to the Manipur Police, the release said.

Violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur following a rally by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023, after the Manipur High Court directed the state to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.

Earlier on January 16, the Assam Rifles arrested two people in Churachandpur district and recovered a huge cache of banned Yaba tablets and brown sugar worth about Rs 62 crore from them. The arrested persons have been identified as Chingsen (age 36 years) and L Pausuanlal Simte (age 38 years).