Security forces in Manipur have arrested four militants, including a self-styled ‘Major’ of the People’s Liberation Army, Koijam Ibochouba, who is linked to a 2017 ambush on Assam Rifles that resulted in casualties. The operation led to the seizure of a significant cache of sophisticated arms, including US-made weapons, discovered buried in Kharungpat village. Additionally, three militants from other insurgent groups were apprehended for extortion activities targeting truck drivers. Concurrently, a joint operation by Assam Rifles, CRPF, and local police successfully destroyed 486 acres of illegal poppy cultivation, which could have produced over 3,300 kg of opium, underscoring ongoing efforts to combat both insurgency and drug trafficking in the region.