KANGPOKPI, January 13: For the second time in less than two months, a combined operation conducted by Imphal West Police commandos and 25 Assam Rifles has nabbed four suspected militants with sophisticated weapons from Kuki Taphou and Kailenjang village near the National Highway 2.
According to sources, police commandos descended upon both the villages during early hours around 3:00am today where some indiscriminate gun shots were heard by neighboring villages.
Towards late afternoon, as police cordoned off the said villages located amidst a hillock of jungle and 25 Assam Rifles sealing off the area, sources confirmed that four militants belonging to KNO/KRA, URF and KCP-Lalheiba group cadres were nabbed along with several rounds of live ammunitions, an A1 rifle, an AK-47 rifle and two M16 rifles.
Moreover, some gun shots were heard again towards the evening at the said hillock village by neighboring villages of Onaeme, Kuki Taphou and Taphou Phyamai.
More than 500 forces from both AR and Police commandos were involved in the said operation.
The CI Op was conducted till 4.30 pm in the evening and till the filing of this report no sources has confirmed the actual total figures of militant arrested or arms recovered during the operation.
However, Kuki Taphou villagers disclosed that one of the four arrested identified as L Lamjahao, 23, son of Letjang is a civilian and a shaktiman driver by profession.
He is said to be married with one child.
Villagers also mentioned that, some houses were searched during the operation and the forces remained within the vicinity of the village till late hours.
Mentioned may be made that, last month on December 17, the Police commandos and 25 AR had also raided Kailenjang village where suspected KCP cadres with arms were sheltering with some local militant groups.
During the said operation one KCP cadre identified as Badal Kamei a self styled lieutenant was nabbed during early hours where some shots were also fired but reports of any injury or casualty were not reported.
