Security forces in Manipur have arrested more than 350 insurgents in a major crackdown on extortion networks, which have taken an alarming turn by targeting not just businesses and government tenders, but also private disputes — including matrimonial issues. Officials confirmed on Sunday that the operation began in mid-February this year, soon after President’s Rule was imposed in the state.
According to government sources, insurgent groups — particularly Valley-based outfits — have grown increasingly brazen and desperate for funds. Exploiting personal disputes like family feuds, property conflicts, and even marriage-related issues, these groups are now offering "settlement services" for a fee, under the threat of violence or coercion.
One such instance involved an individual code-named "Tiger", who was detained by Manipur Police in Imphal East while mediating a matrimonial dispute. He was later identified as Laishram Ramesh Singh, a member of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF). During initial questioning, Singh admitted he had joined the UNLF in September 2024 and was active in its finance wing. He also confessed to collecting extortion money from government employees and business houses in and around Imphal, often linked to government tenders.
Authorities recovered two mobile phones and ₹21.5 lakh in extortion money from him.
Officials explained that the insurgents are now using increasingly sophisticated methods to avoid detection. Tactics include obtaining SIM cards with forged documents from various northeastern states and making encrypted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls via apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Victims would receive calls seemingly from abroad, be issued a unique code, and instructed to hand over the extortion amount to anyone who could verify the code.
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Some unregistered civil society organisations have reportedly acted as intermediaries, collecting extortion funds and passing them on to insurgent groups, after deducting their share.
The arrest campaign has been particularly active in Imphal East and Imphal West districts. Officials say the intensified action follows clear instructions from the Governor’s administration, urging citizens to report extortion attempts to the police — failing which, they could face legal consequences for aiding militants.
The enforcement has also exposed the growing desperation among insurgent outfits, many of which had been relatively dormant before the ethnic unrest in May 2023. Groups such as the UNLF, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup (KYKL), and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) — all banned Meitei insurgent factions — have re-emerged, allegedly feeding off the law-and-order vacuum.
Among these, the UNLF currently has an estimated cadre strength of 530, followed by PLA with 450, and KYKL with 25. The PLA, originally founded under the name 'Polei' (the ancient name of Manipur), claims to aim for the liberation of Manipur and the creation of an independent Meitei state. Meanwhile, KYKL operates without any ideological grounding, functioning as a mercenary unit with members mostly recruited from criminal backgrounds and drug users.
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PREPAK, another secessionist group banned by the government, finances itself primarily through extortion and drug trafficking. It is known to collect extortion funds on behalf of PLA and UNLF while keeping a percentage for itself.
On the other hand, Hill-based insurgent factions, such as the Chin Kuki Mizo Army (CKMA) and Chin Kuki Liberation Army (CKLA), have also been found involved in extortion and drug-related activities.
In total, the Assam Rifles — one of the key paramilitary forces operating in the state — has arrested 77 insurgents involved in extortion schemes, including seven individuals linked to Hill-based militant groups operating in and around Churachandpur.
An official noted that while the immediate trigger for unrest was the ethnic conflict between the Valley-based Meitei community and the Hill-based Kuki-Zo groups, a deeper, systemic issue had long plagued the state — the unchecked extortion by armed groups across ethnic lines.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur in February 2025, under Article 356, after the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The move was aimed at restoring order to a region rocked by communal strife and longstanding insurgency. Despite these efforts, the road to peace remains fraught. Authorities warn that without dismantling the extortion economy that fuels these insurgent outfits, lasting peace in the region will remain elusive.
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