Imphal: Security forces in Manipur have recovered a nine-foot-long country-made rocket fitted with explosives and a detonator, and arrested three militants from two insurgent outfits during the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

A police official said the improvised rocket, weighing about 200 kg, was found between S. Lonphai and Tuikong villages in Churachandpur district, which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar and an inter-state boundary with Mizoram.

As part of an ongoing crackdown on banned militant groups, security forces also apprehended three members of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)/Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) from Imphal East and Imphal West districts.

The official said the arrested militants were involved in recruiting youths for the RPF/PLA, extorting money from civilians and government officials, and mediating loan recovery disputes through intimidation.

The PLA, one of Manipur’s oldest insurgent organisations, remains largely active in the Imphal valley and operates under its political wing, the RPF.

In a separate operation, Manipur Police arrested two individuals and seized 26.47 kg of contraband ganja from the Awang Sekmai area in Imphal West district. The accused were identified as Ramjan Ahmed Laskar (26) and Mirinshing Lunghaar (38), both residents of Teinem village in Ukhrul district.

Security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination in vulnerable and fringe areas across the state. The movement of 346 vehicles carrying essential supplies along the Imphal–Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) was ensured without incident, the official added.

Strict security arrangements have been implemented at all sensitive locations, with security convoys deployed on critical stretches to ensure the safe movement of vehicles.

A total of 115 checkpoints have been set up across hill and valley districts to monitor suspicious movements and prevent illegal activities, police said.