Manipur security forces seize 19 IEDs, heroin powder, opium in separate missions
Security forces in the Indian state of Manipur have recovered 19 IEDs and seized shipments of heroin and opium in various operations over the last seven day.
Forces seized 18 IEDs in Tengnoupal district on Wednesday 29 April. During the operation they also recovered two single barrel rifles, four 9mm pistols with magazines and 15 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. The 18 IEDs were destroyed in situ, according to the Manipur police's Facebook page.
On 30 April 2026, Manipur Police arrested one Anish Khan, 28, and seized three soap cases of heroin powder weighing 154g. Following further investigation, on 1 May, eight more soap cases of heroin powder were recovered from a house belonging to a different person. On 2 May, security forces arrested Takhellambam Soniya Chanu, 46, and seized another 5.56kg of opium.
Finally, also on 2 May, security forces recovered an IED weighing approximately 9kg from Henjang Village, as well as a 12 Bore rifle and five live rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
This is the latest of a series of IED recoveries conducted by security forces in the troubled remote region of India. Among other operational successes, police recovered 50 IEDs in a single day on Friday 20 March alone.
Manipur has experienced prolonged ethnic violence since May 2023 after the Meitei community demanded "scheduled tribe" status. A protest march led by tribal groups who saw the demand as an existential threat spiralled into retaliatory violence, arson and killings.
The unrest has so far claimed at least 260 lives, including civilians from the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel. Thousands of people have also been displaced.
