Five militants arrested in Manipur

Imphal: Five militants were arrested during search operations in two Manipur districts, police said today.

Acting on a tip-off, a combined team of 15th Assam Rifles battalion and police commandos of Thoubal district police station launched a search operation at interior Heirok village late last evening, police said. During the combing operation, a militant of Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) identified as Moirangthem Premananda (25) was arrested, the police said. One 7.65 pistol along with some rounds of ammunition was recovered from his possession. Premananda during the interrogation said he had joined the outfit in 2003 and undergone basic arms training at a camp located in the thick jungles of Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district, police said. In another search operation, police commandos arrested four militants of banned People`s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak Progressive from Kangla Park and BT Road areas in the heart of Imphal town last evening, the police said. They have been handed over to Imphal West district police station here for further interrogation, they said.