At least 10 suspected militants were killed in an ongoing military operation near New Samtal village in Manipur’s Chandel district, close to the Indo-Myanmar border, the Indian Army said on Thursday.
According to a statement from the Eastern Command, the operation was launched on May 14 by an Assam Rifles unit under the III Corps (Spear Corps), acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of armed insurgents in the area.
“Troops were fired upon by suspected cadres during the operation. They responded swiftly, redeployed, and retaliated in a calibrated and measured manner,” the statement read.
In the ensuing gunfight, 10 militants were neutralised and a significant cache of arms and ammunition was recovered. The operation remains active as of Thursday morning.
Officials noted that further details regarding the identities and affiliations of those killed are awaited. Chandel district, located along Manipur’s 398-km porous border with Myanmar, is a tribal-majority region predominantly inhabited by the Naga community.
The military action comes as part of a broader crackdown on insurgent groups across Manipur.
On May 10, in a joint operation by security forces and state police, at least 13 militants were arrested. They were reportedly active members of banned outfits and involved in extortion activities, according to a senior police official.
Among those apprehended were Ningthoujam Kiran Meitei, alias Boinao (29), and Sorokhaibam Inaocha Singh (45), both residents of Imphal West and active operatives of the Kangleipak Communist Party – People’s War Group [KCP (PWG)] faction, police said.
(With inputs from IBNS)
