Security forces arrested three people, including a 27-year-old cadre of the banned National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM), for their alleged involvement in extortion in Manipurâs Imphal East and Thoubal districts, police said on Saturday, September 26. The arrests followed separate operations conducted on Friday.
The NRFM cadre was apprehended from his native village of Koirengei in Imphal East, according to a police statement. Officers recovered approximately Rs 30,500 in cash, which they suspected had been collected through extortion.
Based on information provided by the detained cadre, security forces later arrested one of his associates from Keikol Mayai Leikai in Imphal East. The associate was allegedly involved in carrying out activities for the banned outfit.
In a separate operation, police arrested an alleged extortionist linked to the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Nongdrenkhomba) from Kodompokpi Mamang Leikai in Thoubal district.
The arrests come amid ongoing security operations in Manipur, where forces have conducted searches and area-domination patrols in vulnerable areas since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. The conflict between the valley-based Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki community has reportedly killed at least 306 people, left 49 missing and displaced thousands, according to official figures cited by police.
