Fresh crackdown in Manipur: Bunker busted, and arms recovered amid rising tensions along the Indo-Myanmar border.
BY PC Bureau
The India-Myanmar border in Manipur has become a hotspot for intensified military operations, with security forces cracking down on insurgent groups operating in the region. Assam Rifles personnel, in collaboration with Manipur Police, recently launched a series of operations targeting militant hideouts, seizing arms and explosives while arresting several insurgents.
On February 20, 2025, Assam Rifles personnel conducted a security operation along the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, dismantling three temporary hideouts used by militants. Acting on intelligence regarding militant activity, the Assam Rifles launched an operation targeting armed individuals believed to be using the structures for inter-group conflict.
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The operation focused on areas near SL Zougam and Point 1683 villages. After cordoning off the area, troops conducted a thorough search of the dense foliage and discovered the three bunkers, which were subsequently destroyed. The militants, however, fled across the border before the troops arrived. Ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other military supplies were recovered from the scene and handed over to local police.
n a series of intensified operations along the Indo-Myanmar border, security forces have recently arrested multiple militants and dismantled insurgent hideouts, signaling a renewed crackdown on armed groups operating in the region.
On February 14, 2025, a team of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) launched a surprise raid in the Sajik Tampak area of Chandel district, acting on intelligence inputs about the movement of armed individuals. Seven suspected militants were apprehended with a cache of weapons, including AK-series rifles with live rounds, single-barrel guns, and other arms. The operation, carried out near the Chakpikarong police station, is part of a broader effort to curb militant activity along the porous Indo-Myanmar border.
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Earlier, on February 10, 2025, Assam Rifles personnel nabbed two suspected militants near Border Pillar 85, close to the Indo-Myanmar border. The individuals, reportedly affiliated with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), were caught attempting to infiltrate India from Myanmar. Security forces recovered a substantial amount of Myanmar currency, raising concerns over cross-border militant networks and alleged backing from Myanmar’s military factions.
Security forces also apprehended recently four members of the Socialist Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (SOREPA) near the Indo-Myanmar border.
These developments come at a time when insurgent groups in Manipur have ramped up their activities, taking advantage of the ongoing political instability in Myanmar.
Several insurgent groups, including the KNA, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), have long used the porous border to move freely between India and Myanmar. The situation has worsened in recent months due to escalating ethnic tensions between Meitei and Kuki communities and an influx of armed militants from across the border. The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has further fueled instability, pushing rebel groups into Indian territory.
Additionally, the region has become a hub for arms and narcotics trafficking, with smuggled weapons and methamphetamine fueling further violence. Intelligence reports suggest that insurgents have been using encrypted communication networks and even satellite devices, defying India’s internet restrictions.
In response, Indian security forces have ramped up surveillance and counter-insurgency operations, aiming to dismantle militant networks and restore stability. However, with tensions continuing to rise and cross-border insurgent movements persisting, the Manipur-Myanmar border remains a volatile flashpoint.
