Major Arms Haul and Arrests in Churachandpur After Threat to Sangai Festival

KalimNews, Churachandpur, November 26, 2025: Manipur Police and Assam Rifles Make Multiple Arrests in Crackdown on Insurgent Activities, Illegal Arms, and Disinformation.

Imphal, November 26, 2025: In a series of coordinated operations over the past week, Manipur Police, along with Assam Rifles (AR), have arrested several active cadres of insurgent groups and seized a significant cache of illegal weapons, marking a major effort in countering insurgent activities and maintaining peace in the region. The operations followed intelligence inputs and investigations into threats, recruitment activities, and disinformation campaigns.

The most recent breakthrough came after a video posted on Facebook by a user named “Metei Lanmi Naotyboy” on November 21, 2025, threatened to bomb the Sangai Festival 2025. 

The Manipur Police, along with Assam Rifles, launched a swift investigation into the threat and arrested three active members of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KCP), particularly the KCP (MFL) faction, involved in the plot. 

The arrested individuals included Laishram Sonia Devi (31), from Okram Chuthek, Imphal East district. Another cadre Sonia Devi, was arrested from her residence, was involved in extortion activities and is suspected of being part of the criminal network supporting insurgent activities in the region. Other arrested in the incident were Salam Luwangnganba Meetei @ Ibungo (22), from Tera Sadokpam Leikai, Imphal West district and Phamdom Phampok Meitei @ Ajay @ Abungcha (29), from Wangjing Bazar, Thoubal district. Meitei was reportedly involved in planning to hurl grenades at the Sangai Festival.

In a separate operation on November 26, 2025, Manipur Police arrested Thangjam Avinash Singh @ Amuba @ Picktru (18), an active cadre of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) faction (SOREPA), from the Porompat area. Singh is believed to be involved in recruiting new members for the outfit, and a mobile phone was seized during his arrest.

On November 25, 2025, Manipur Police apprehended Laishram Amar Singh @ Amarjit (38), an active cadre of PREPAK (PRO), from his residence in Top Awang Leikai, under Porompat Police Station. Police recovered a mobile phone and an Aadhaar card during the arrest.

In a significant breakthrough, on November 24, 2025, Manipur Police arrested Ronaldo Thoudam @ Lamjingba (23), an active cadre of KCP (PWG), from Chandranadi Lamkhai, Imphal West district. The arrested individual is suspected of having been actively involved in insurgent activities in the region.

Additionally, on November 25, 2025, security forces recovered a large cache of arms and explosives in the general area of Songlung village, Kangpokpi district. The recovered weapons included 01 Heckler & Koch G3 with magazine, 02 Bolt Action rifles, 04 Pull Mechanism rifles, 01 Improvised Mortar, 02 No. 36 Hand Grenades, 02 Arming Rings and Detonators, 02 G3 live rounds and 01 Handheld Radio Set

This arms recovery is part of the ongoing effort to curb the growing threat of insurgent violence and maintain law and order in the region.

In a separate investigation, Manipur Police arrested Yumkhaibam Shantikumar (25), a digital content creator from Tangkham Awang Leikai, Imphal East district, on November 24, 2025. Shantikumar was apprehended after his viral video appeared to encourage suggestive and provocative questioning of random people, potentially fostering criminal activities, intimidation, and distrust among social groups. The content of the video was deemed to spread false information and sow discord, leading to his arrest under charges related to conspiracy to commit criminal offenses.

Authorities are continuing their investigations into all of these cases, with further arrests and developments expected as the crackdown on insurgent groups, illegal weapons, and disinformation campaigns intensifies. The recent string of arrests underscores the ongoing efforts by Manipur Police and security forces to tackle the persistent insurgent activities and maintain peace in the region.