17 detained at Sinai camp; police recover 12 firearms, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition
Imphal, Oct 20: Manipur Police have arrested three people in connection with the killing of three firewood collectors at Sunulok Hill on Monday, with two of the accused admitting during preliminary interrogation that they were part of the assault team involved in the attack.
Police also recovered 12 firearms, 1,095 rounds of ammunition and a cache of explosives during intensified security operations launched following the killings, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press briefing at Police Headquarters in Mantripukhri, Lhatoo said the role of the third accused was being investigated, and efforts were underway to identify others involved in the attack.
The three firewood collectors were killed, and three others were injured near Uyumpok, close to Nongsum Hill, along the Imphal East–Kangpokpi district boundary on October 19.
The killings triggered protests in Imphal, with demonstrators bringing the victims’ bodies to the Chief Minister’s bungalow and demanding immediate action. A local MLA also called for the removal of a nearby Suspension of Operations (SoO) camp, alleging security lapses.
The incident has renewed concerns over civilian safety and the possibility of fresh tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Arms and explosives recovered
According to Lhatoo, the firearms and other materials were recovered based on disclosures made by the arrested individuals during the investigation.
The seized weapons included an INSAS rifle, an M16 rifle, an AK-47/Type-81 rifle, a 7.62 mm sniper rifle, a Heckler & Koch rifle, three 12-bore guns, a Lethod gun and a handmade rocket launcher.
The recovery also included TNT slabs, other explosive materials, locally made Pompi bombs, rifle grenades, a Chinese hand grenade, handmade mortars, and three detonators Radio sets, batteries, helmets, uniforms, a monocular and poppy plant seeds were also seized.
The arrests followed intelligence-based searches conducted from Monday evening by joint teams of Manipur Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA in the areas around S Highland Court and neighbouring villages under Sagolmang Police Station.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the attack and attempting to establish the identities and affiliations of those involved.
Subhead: 17 detained at Sinai camp for verification.
In a separate operation, security forces detained 17 individuals at the Sinai camp after their identities did not match the listed cadres of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) associated with the designated sub-camp.
The operation began around 4 am on Tuesday and involved Manipur Police, CRPF, CoBRA, the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles and the Army.
L hatoo said the identities and backgrounds of the detained individuals were being verified. Some of them might have come from other locations, he added.
Police were also checking reports of missing ammunition and magazines from the camp against weapons recovered during the ongoing operations.
Senior police and security officers conducted helicopter surveillance over the areas where the searches were underway. Director General of Police Mukesh Singh also visited the site of the Sunulok Hill attack and coordinated the security operations, Lhatoo said.
Two arrested in separate Thoubal operation
Meanwhile, joint security teams conducted a combing operation in the Khangabok–Sangaiyumpham area of Thoubal district from around 4 am on Tuesday.
The teams, comprising Thoubal Police, CoBRA, the Rapid Action Force, CRPF and Assam Rifles, searched around 146 houses and verified the identities of more than 300 people.
Four suspects were detained, of whom two were formally arrested in connection with a separate case. A double-barrel gun was also seized and sent for forensic examination.
Police warn against rumours.
Appealing for public cooperation, Lhatoo urged people to maintain peace and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
He cautioned against circulating unverified information and provocative content on social media, warning that those spreading false information would face legal action.
The ADGP said the investigation into the Sunulok Hill attack was continuing, including efforts to establish possible links between the arrested individuals and other suspects.
Asked whether the accused belonged to any particular organisation, Lhatoo said their affiliations were still being investigated.
He also said further verification was needed to determine the identities of those detained at Sinai camp and whether any genuine cadres remained there.
Police said efforts were continuing to identify the perpetrators, trace possible links, and recover weapons and ammunition.
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