Six UPPK militants held for extortion and kidnapping in Manipur

Indian Opinion Analysis

UPPK is one of several valley-based Meitei insurgent groups that signed a Suspension of Operations agreement with the Centre in 2008 but is still listed as a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The arrests come against the backdrop of an ethnic crisis that began in May 2023, when large-scale violence between Meitei and Kuki communities left over 200 dead and displaced roughly 60,000 people. Extortion by armed groups on both sides has been a persistent complaint from civilians, especially in border areas between the valley and hill districts. The 23 letterheads recovered point to an organised shakedown racket. The next signal to watch is whether the arrested cadres reveal links to other militants or to serving government employees, P. Koireng Singh's Forest Department job makes that a live question.