What Happened
- Manipur Police arrested three militants belonging to two different proscribed outfits for alleged involvement in extortion activities in the state.
- Two of the arrested were active cadres of the United National Liberation Front (Koireng faction) — UNLF(K), a Meitei separatist group.
- The arrests occurred against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur that has persisted since May 2023, complicating counter-insurgency operations.
- The arrested militants were reportedly running extortion networks targeting businesses and individuals in the valley districts.
- The operation demonstrates continued law enforcement activity against valley-based insurgent organisations even as the ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities remains unresolved.
Static Topic Bridges
United National Liberation Front (UNLF) — Manipur's Oldest Insurgent Group
The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was founded on November 24, 1964 under the leadership of Areambam Samrendra Singh, making it the oldest active Meitei insurgent organisation in Manipur. It seeks to establish a sovereign and socialist independent Manipur.
- UNLF has two active factions: UNLF (Pambei) and UNLF (Koireng) — named after their respective leaders. Factional splits have been common across northeast insurgent groups.
- UNLF(P) [Pambei faction] signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the government, while UNLF(K) [Koireng faction] remains outside the peace process.
- UNLF has been designated a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), appearing in the First Schedule of proscribed organisations; the ban was renewed for five years in November 2023.
- The group operates from bases in Myanmar and has historically received support from trans-border networks.
- Despite peace accords with some factions, extortion (locally called "taxation") remains a primary revenue source for valley-based insurgent groups.
Connection to this news: The UNLF(K)'s continued extortion activities — even as the UNLF(P) faction engages in peace talks — illustrates the fragmented nature of northeast insurgencies and the challenge of bringing all factions into a peace process simultaneously.
UAPA — Designation and Legal Framework for Proscribed Organisations
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) is India's primary counter-terrorism and anti-insurgency legislation. It provides for designation of individuals and organisations as terrorist/unlawful, and for stringent bail conditions, extended detention periods, and special court procedures.
- Section 3 of UAPA empowers the Central Government to declare an association "unlawful" if it supports secession, disclaims sovereignty of India, or causes disaffection against India.
- Section 35 empowers the Central Government to designate an individual as a "terrorist." Designated individuals and organisations are listed in Schedules to the Act.
- UAPA allows detention up to 180 days without filing a chargesheet (against the normal 60/90 days under CrPC), and bail is extremely difficult to obtain once charges are filed.
- A UAPA Tribunal reviews designations; an organisation can challenge its inclusion within 30 days.
- Manipur has 40+ valley-based insurgent groups, many of which are designated under UAPA — including UNLF, PLA (People's Liberation Army), PREPAK (People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak), KCP (Kangleipak Communist Party).
Connection to this news: The arrested UNLF(K) cadres face prosecution under UAPA provisions — which means stringent bail conditions and special NIA court jurisdiction if the National Investigation Agency takes over the case.
AFSPA and Security Operations in Manipur
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) grants special powers to armed forces in "disturbed areas," including the power to search without warrant, arrest without warrant, and use force (including lethal force) if necessary. Manipur has been under AFSPA since 1958.
- AFSPA is imposed when an area is declared "disturbed" under Section 3 of the Act by the Central or State Government.
- In March 2023, the Union Government partially withdrew AFSPA from 6 police station areas in Manipur's valley districts following improved security conditions — but reimposed it in 2023 after ethnic violence erupted.
- As of early 2026, AFSPA remains in force across most of Manipur except certain valley areas.
- The ethnic violence since May 2023 (between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities) has created a complex security environment where conventional counter-insurgency operations intersect with communal conflict management.
- The Northeast peace process includes Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with armed groups that agree to refrain from violence while talks proceed — UNLF(P) signed SoO, UNLF(K) has not.
Connection to this news: AFSPA's continued applicability provides the legal cover for security forces to conduct operations against UNLF(K) militants, but the ethnic conflict overlay makes distinguishing insurgency from communal violence operationally challenging.
Key Facts & Data
- UNLF founded: November 24, 1964 (oldest Meitei insurgent group)
- UNLF factions: UNLF(P) — Pambei (in peace talks); UNLF(K) — Koireng (active militancy)
- UAPA proscription: First Schedule; ban renewed for 5 years in November 2023
- Charges: Extortion (also prosecutable under UAPA for funding unlawful/terrorist activities)
- AFSPA status in Manipur: In force across most of the state (reimposed 2023 after ethnic violence)
- Manipur valley-based insurgent groups: 40+ organisations, most proscribed under UAPA
- National Investigation Agency (NIA): Can take over UAPA cases from state police
- Ethnic conflict context: Meitei-Kuki-Zo violence since May 2023 — over 200 deaths, 50,000+ displaced