Manipur Police Nab Woman, Three Militants in Extortion Crackdown Across Imphal Valley

April 11, 2025 – Manipur Police Commandos and central security forces conducted a series of raids on Thursday, arresting four persons, including a 43-year-old woman, for their alleged roles in extortion and militant activities across the Imphal Valley. The operations targeted operatives linked to banned insurgent groups, exposing the persistent grip of extortion rackets amid the state’s ongoing ethnic turmoil.

The woman, identified as Moirangmayum Sapana Devi, alias Naocha, from Lilong Chajing Mairenkhong Leikai in Imphal West District, was apprehended in Lilong Bazar, Thoubal District. According to police, she was caught collecting extortion money from local businesses under the direction of the proscribed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak – Progressive (PREPAK-Pro).

The arrest followed multiple complaints from shopkeepers and residents about coercive demands in the area. Authorities seized a mobile phone and an Aadhaar card from her possession, and investigations are underway to uncover her broader connections to the group’s network.

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In separate raids across Imphal East District, three male cadres of banned militant outfits were detained. Md. Israk Khan, alias Popo, a 21-year-old member of the Kangleipak Communist Party – People’s War (KCP-PWG), was arrested at his residence in Kairang Chingya Awang Leikai. Oinam Rabichandra Singh, 33, an active member of the Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup/Socialist Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (KYKL/SOREPA), was nabbed near the FCI Godown in Sawombung under Lamlai Police Station. Singh hails from Lamjao Makha Leikai in Kakching District. The third suspect, Mutum Kamei Badal, 40, of the Revolutionary People’s Front/People’s Liberation Army (RPF/PLA), was detained on Ngariyan Yairipok Road near Chingyang Lairembi Ima Keithel. Police recovered three mobile phones and incriminating documents from the trio, with ongoing probes to trace their roles in extortion and illegal arms trafficking.

Scale and Dyn

amics of Extortion in Imphal Valley

The Imphal Valley, spanning Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur districts, has witnessed a surge in extortion since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. Police data from November 2024 to February 2025 recorded 80 extortion cases, alongside 22 drug smuggling incidents and 12 illegal arms possessions, though underreporting is likely due to fear of retaliation. Targets range from small businesses and schools to government offices and civilians, with demands often enforced through threats of violence.

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Role of Women:

The involvement of women, such as Sapana Devi, highlights a growing trend, though their participation remains limited compared to men. Women are typically deployed as couriers or intermediaries, capitalizing on their ability to operate discreetly. Last October, two women, Athokpam Inaobi Devi and Moirangthem Ichan Devi, were among six KCP-PWG members arrested for extorting businesses in Imphal East. Economic distress and coercion by militant groups are believed to drive such involvement, positioning women as low-level operatives rather than decision-makers.

The extortion ecosystem is dominated by Meitei insurgent groups operating in the valley. The KCP-PWG is linked to the highest number of cases, followed by PREPAK-Pro and RPF/PLA. Other active outfits include KYKL, various KCP factions (Noyon, City Meitei, Taibanganba), the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), and SOREPA. These groups often frame extortion as “revolutionary taxes” to fund separatist agendas, exploiting the valley’s urban density. The KCP-PWG has faced accusations of acting as mercenaries, notably in the December 2024 killing of two migrant laborers in Kakching. The revival of groups like PLA and KYKL is tied to weakened border control in Myanmar since 2023, enabling reestablished networks. Funds from extortion fuel arms purchases, recruitment, and operations, perpetuating instability.

Police have intensified efforts, detaining 15 cadres since October 2024, including Thursday’s arrests. However, the ethnic divide—between the Meitei-dominated valley and Kuki-dominated hills—hampers enforcement, with hill areas largely unpatrolled due to security concerns. As Manipur battles these intertwined crises, the crackdown underscores a fragile region wrestling with militancy and unrest.