IMPHAL: The security forces have arrested 12 dreaded militants of different banned outfits, including five cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) from different districts of Manipur during the past 24 hours, officials said on Saturday.
A police official said that the security forces, including Assam Rifles, arrested five dreaded and active cadres of UKNA from Songkot village area in Churachandpur district.
The UKNA is an outlawed Kuki extremist outfit, active mainly in the hill districts of Manipur.
The arrested cadres of UKNA identified as Paolenlal Kipgen (30), Kamgoulen (23), Lhunkholen Singson (26), Khaiginpau (37) and Thangzasuan (14).
The official said that from their possession, one M79 grenade launcher with three bombs, two 9mm pistols with five rounds, eight radio sets along with four chargers, eight pairs of jungle shoes, three kg of opium seeds and three mobile phones were recovered.
On October 2, the security forces arrested the self-styled Commander-in-Chief of another Kuki militant outfit -- Chin Kuki Mizo Army (CKMA) Paokholen Guite from the same Churachandpur district.
According to the official, Guite was involved in the trafficking of weapons and drugs across the India-Myanmar border for those militant outfits that have not signed the suspension of operations agreement with the state government.
He was also involved in extortion activities.