UKHRUL: Security forces, including 33 Assam Rifles, conducted a search and verification exercise at the designated Sinai Suspension of Operations (SoO) camp before police formally arrested 17 individuals on Friday.
According sources, the individuals were detained after their identities reportedly did not match the list of cadres belonging to the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) associated with the camp.
The 17 individuals are expected to be produced before a court on Saturday.
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The arrests followed intensified security operations after the October 19 Khongbal killings of three civilians at Sunulok Hill which left three other civilians injured.
Earlier, the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police arrested three suspected Kuki militants at Phailenkot in connection with the attack. Two of the arrested individuals reportedly admitted to being part of the assault team, while the role of the third remained under investigation, according to Manipur Police.
Security forces subsequently reported recovering 12 firearms, 1,095 rounds of ammunition and a cache of explosives during the intensified operations. Police said the recoveries were made based on disclosures by the accused.
Meanwhile, according to Manipur Police, verification at the camp found that the 17 individuals were allegedly using false identities to impersonate registered cadres, including eight of the KNA and nine of the Kuki Liberation Army KLA.
Manipur Police said the operation was conducted by a joint operation with the Quick Action Team (QAT) of the CRPF and CoBRA, arrested 17 individuals for allegedly impersonating registered cadres of the SoO groups at the designated Sinai camp on October 23.
As per Police, 24 firearms, 38 magazines, a large quantity of ammunition, explosives, wireless communication equipment and other combat gear were sized during the operation.
Police registered FIR No. 20(10)2026 at YPI Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act, Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act and Explosive Substances Act.
All 17 accused have been remanded to eight days of police custody until October 31. Their medical examinations have been completed, police said.
Further investigation is underway into the alleged impersonation, unauthorised possession of arms, possible involvement of camp functionaries and violations of SoO ground rules, according to the police statement.
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