In a major counter-insurgency breakthrough, Imphal East Police arrested five suspected operatives of the United National Liberation Front–Pambei (UNLF-P) last week, recovering a significant cache of sophisticated US-manufactured firearms allegedly smuggled from Myanmar.
The coordinated crackdown, based on precise intelligence inputs, was launched in the early hours of Monday by a team led by Imphal East SSP Rakesh Balwal. The operation targeted arms dealers and insurgent operatives in the greater Imphal region.
The first breakthrough came with the arrest of 24-year-old Lanchenba Nongthombam at Nongmeibum Ayanpalli. Authorities stated that Nongthombam had been illegally selling arms and ammunition using forged documents, bypassing any registration or legal procedures.
Upon interrogation, Nongthombam revealed the identity of his alleged supplier—Sinam Somendro Meitei, also known by aliases Pankhei and Richard, a resident of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai. Somendro confessed to being an active ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ in UNLF-P, having joined the insurgent group in 1995 and undergoing arms training in 1997 as part of its 12th batch.
Massive haul of US-made firearms
A subsequent raid at Somendro’s residence led to the recovery of multiple high-grade firearms including weapons manufactured by Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Glock, Browning, KelTec and Beretta—all based in US.
Additionally, police seized assorted ammunition, three iPhone 16 smartphones, and a Baofeng wireless handset, indicating possible encrypted communication networks.
Though the UNLF-P is officially under a peace agreement with the Centre and Manipur state government, the possession of such advanced foreign-made arms has raised alarm.
Central intelligence agencies have joined the investigation, probing possible links with Myanmar-based insurgent groups such as Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Arakan Army.
According to an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), “There is a strong possibility that these weapons came through the Bangladesh-Myanmar humanitarian corridor controlled by the Arakan Army. The presence of US-made firearms in Manipur has significantly deepened India’s national security concerns.”
The probe led to three more arrests–Henthoi from Jiribam, Rajkumar Abothe Singh from Singjamai Chirom Leikai (Imphal West) and Rameshwor Thokchom from Kongpal Mutum Leikai.
Investigators are also examining potential political connections, with reports suggesting that Lanchenba Nongthombam may be the nephew of a prominent Meitei politician.
Suspected link to notorious arms smuggler
Officials are also probing whether any of the arrested individuals have connections to Khundongbam Lanjingba, a notorious arms smuggler previously arrested for trafficking weapons from Myanmar. Lanjingba served prison time in Myanmar from 2010 to 2012.
The operation marks one of the biggest crackdowns on arms trafficking in recent months in Manipur, exposing the persistent inter-border insurgent network and raising urgent questions over regional stability, ahead of the monsoon security review.
