Fight between Manipur groups yields ‘heroin’

Manipur police recover heroin-like substance after clash between radical groups, leading to arrests and weapon seizures.

GUWAHATI

A fight between two groups in Manipur’s Imphal Valley led to the recovery of a heroin-like substance on March 22.

The security forces recovered 15 grams of suspected heroin from an office of Arambai Tenggol (AT) during a raid, the Manipur Police said on social media platform X. A Meitei radical group, the AT emerged during the ethnic conflict between the community and the Kuki-Zos that broke out in May 2023.

The recovery of the ‘heroin’ followed a clash between suspected AT members and those of the Pambei faction of the extremist United National Liberation Front or UNLF(P), which signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre in November 2023.

The police said a group of about 20 suspected AT members entered the residence of Irengbam Nandakumar Singh, an alleged UNLF(P) functionary, at a locality in Imphal on Saturday, leading to a fight. The police also said reports of firing by both groups were received.

The security forces, however, found four UNLF(P) members with injuries caused by blunt objects. “They were detained and taken to a hospital for treatment,” the police said.

Later in the day, the security forces raided an office of the AT in the Khurai area and recovered incriminating articles, including bulletproof jackets and 15 grams of a substance suspected to be heroin. Reports said no member of the outfit has been arrested so far.