Imphal, Sep 2026 : Two militants of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) were killed and two others injured in an exchange of fire with security forces during an intelligence-based operation in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, officials said on Sunday.
The operation was jointly conducted by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of UKNA cadres at Phaibong village under the Henglep subdivision in the mountainous district. Security forces established surveillance around a suspected UKNA camp before moving in to conduct a tactical operation.
According to officials, UKNA cadres opened indiscriminate fire as troops approached the camp. Security personnel responded with controlled fire, resulting in two militants being killed and two others sustaining injuries.
A subsequent search of the camp led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment. The seized items included two foreign-made MA rifles of 5.56 mm calibre, one AK-56 rifle chambered for 7.62 mm ammunition and one 40 mm Lathode gun. Security forces also recovered seven Lathode grenades, 15 AK magazines, 371 rounds of AK-56 ammunition, 601 rounds for MA rifles and 172 SLR rounds.
In addition, the operation resulted in the seizure of 15 combat uniforms, seven ammunition pouches, five backpacks, three combat bags and five pairs of jungle shoes. Combing operations continued in the surrounding forested areas to locate any other militants or concealed weapons.
In a separate operation, formations under the Army’s Spear Corps, working in close coordination with the Manipur Police, recovered three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from a jungle area between Leishabithol and Ahamadabad in Jiribam district, along the southern Assam border.
The explosives, weighing approximately 20 kg in total, were safely neutralised at the site through controlled demolition, officials said. The action was described as a major preventive measure that helped avert a potential threat to civilians and property in the area.
A defence spokesman said the operations reflected the continued vigilance, operational preparedness and coordination among security agencies working to maintain peace and security in Manipur.
The UKNA, described as a Hmar tribal militant organisation, is not a signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Centre, the Manipur government and several Kuki and Zomi armed groups.
At present, 23 underground groups operating under two umbrella organisations — eight under the United People’s Front (UPF) and 15 under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) — have been under the SoO arrangement with the Government of India since August 2008.
Security forces have also recently arrested the self-styled chief of the banned UKNA in Churachandpur district. The accused, identified by police as R.C. Singson, was apprehended from Old Gelmol village, an area located near the inter-state border with Mizoram and the unfenced international boundary with Myanmar.
Following information allegedly provided during interrogation, security personnel conducted another search operation in the forested areas of Thingchawm village. The operation resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with a magazine, a 9 mm pistol with a magazine, three IEDs and two Baofeng radio communication sets, police said.
The latest operations underline the security forces’ continuing efforts to disrupt armed groups, recover illegal weapons and prevent militant activity in vulnerable areas of Manipur.
