Manipur Police Bust Extortion Racket: 6 Militants Arrested, Heavy Explosives and Drugs Recovered
Imphal / Tarai 24 Regional Desk, March 15, 2026 — In a major breakthrough against insurgency and organized crime in the state, security forces and Manipur Police have arrested nine individuals, including six militants, during extensive intelligence-based search operations. The sweeping anti-extortion drive also led to the recovery of heavy weaponry, including an improvised rocket, significant cash, and narcotics.
Hospital Extortion Racket Smashed
A significant portion of the operation focused on dismantling an extortion ring operating out of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. Police arrested four militants belonging to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) faction on Friday.
The arrested cadres—identified as Sinam Umakanta Singh, RK Heramot Singh, Khoisnam Roger, and Khoisnam Byron—were allegedly extorting bribes from contract staff nurses at the hospital. Authorities recovered a staggering ₹39 lakh in cash, along with a pistol and six mobile phones. Police confirmed that the extorted money was being systematically transferred to the underground outfit to fund its operations.
7-Foot Rocket and Explosives Recovered
In a separate and highly concerning discovery on Saturday, security forces conducting area-domination operations in Churachandpur district uncovered a massive cache of improvised weapons.
Searches in the fringe areas of Old Nabil, under the Henglep police station, led to the recovery of a 7-foot-long country-made rocket packed with approximately 60 kg of explosives. Security personnel also seized an improvised mortar, a mortar bomb, a single-barrel gun, and several magazines from the vulnerable area, averting potential large-scale violence.
Further Arrests and Drug Seizures
The ongoing combing operations also targeted other banned groups and criminal syndicates across the state:
In Imphal East district, police arrested a woman cadre of the Revolutionary People’s Front/People’s Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) and an active member of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive) [PREPAK (Pro)] in two separate incidents.
In Thoubal district’s Lilong Bazar area, three individuals were apprehended with a 9mm pistol, live rounds, and 494 grams of heroin powder. The police also seized a Hyundai Creta used by the suspects.
A senior police officer confirmed that these aggressive, intelligence-led cordon and search operations will continue extensively to nab those involved in extortion and ensure the safety of the public.
