Sunurok massacre: 3 held, huge cache of arms recovered, says ADGP ‘Two have admitted involvement in case’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 20 : Three persons have been arrested along with a large number of arms and ammunition in connection with the attack at Sunurok Hill on October 19, 2026 which claimed three lives and injured three others.
Briefing media persons at Manipur Police headquarters, Mantripukhri this evening, ADGP (Law & Order/Intelligence) Lhori Dorjee Lhatoo said that three individuals were arrested along with arms and ammunition in the course of an intensive search operation carried out at S Phailenkot and adjoining areas since October 19 afternoon.
Following the deadly attack and other acts of violence which took place on October 18 and 19, Manipur Police and Central security forces have intensified joint search and intelligence-based operations, he said.
The search operation was carried out by a combined team of Manipur Police, CRPF, COBRA, Assam Rifles and BSF.
Two of three arrested persons have admitted their involvement in killing the three innocent civilians, the ADGP said.
He said that investigation is underway to identify other persons involved in the attack.  
Based on disclosures made by the arrested persons, one INSAS rifle, one M16 rifle, one A1 rifle, one AK-47-type rifle, one 7.62 mm sniper rifle, one Heckler & Koch 5.56 mm rifle, three 12-bore single-barrel guns, one lethod gun, one handmade rocket launcher and many other items were recovered.
In addition, TNT slabs, PEK explosives, gunpowder, one lethod cell, pompi bombs, Chinese hand grenades, handmade mortars, detonators, M-61 rifle grenades, radio sets with batteries, helmets, uniforms, binoculars and poppy seeds were recovered.    
The total number of firearms recovered was reported to be 12 firearms and 1,095 live rounds of various weapons.
Security forces also carried out a search operation at Sinai Camp, a designated camp of KNO/KLA, located near Semol village in Kangpokpi district from 4 am today.
Altogether 17 persons who are not cadres of KNO/KLA  were pulled up from the camp and verification of their identities was going on.
Moreover, some ammunition and magazines were also found missing from the camp.
It is being examined whether the arms and ammunition recovered from Phailenkot with the magazines and ammunition mi- ssing from the Sinai camp, Lhori Dorjee Lhatoo said.
With regard to the violence between Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham, the ADGP said that an extensive search operation covering 146 houses was carried out from 4 am today at Sangaiyumpham Cherapur.
More than 300 people were pulled up and questioned, he said.
Out of four suspects pulled up for their involvement in the clash, two have been formally arrested and one double barrel shotgun has been seized, the ADGP added.