Imphal, Oct 4: The security forces have arrested 12 dreaded militants of different banned outfits, including five cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) from different districts of Manipur during the past 24 hours, officials said on Saturday.

A police official said that the security forces, including Assam Rifles, arrested five dreaded and active cadres of UKNA from Songkot village area in Churachandpur district.

The UKNA is an outlawed Kuki extremist outfit, active mainly in the hill districts of Manipur.

The arrested cadres of UKNA identified as Paolenlal Kipgen (30), Kamgoulen (23), Lhunkholen Singson (26), Khaiginpau (37) and Thangzasuan (14).

The official said that from their possession, one M79 grenade launcher with three bombs, two 9mm pistols with five rounds, eight radio sets along with four chargers, eight pairs of jungle shoes, three kg of opium seeds and three mobile phones were recovered.

On October 2, the security forces arrested the self-styled Commander-in-Chief of another Kuki militant outfit — Chin Kuki Mizo Army (CKMA) Paokholen Guite from the same Churachandpur district.

According to the official, Guite was involved in the trafficking of weapons and drugs across the India-Myanmar border for those militant outfits that have not signed the suspension of operations agreement with the state government.

He was also involved in extortion activities.

Two AK-47 rifles with two magazines, 31 7.62 AK-47 rounds, 150 rounds of 7.62 SLR and LMG, cash amounting to Rs one lakh, a bullet-proof pouch, a car, and two mobile phones were also seized from Guite’s possession.

The official added that during the past 24 hours, besides the five UKNA guerrillas, seven more militants were arrested from Imphal West and Thoubal districts.

The arrested militants belonged to different factions of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The seven arrested extremists include, self-styled Corporal of PLA Nongmaithem Sidananda Singh alias Nanao alis Lenin (38).

These militants were involved in abduction of people, extortion from the people in Manipur valley region, mediation between parties through intimidation and in cases related to crimes against women.

The security forces rescued one Soyam Sanayamba Thomas (35) of Thamnapokpi village under Imphal East district, who had strayed into Twinomjang village, Kangpokpi district, a tribal-inhabited district.

He has been handed over to his family.

The official said that the security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas across districts.

The movement of 346 vehicles carrying essential items along Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) has been ensured without any incident.

Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoys are provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles.

According to the official, a total of 114 nakas/checkpoints were set up in different districts, both in the hills and the valley region, to prevent untoward and illegal movements of inimical elements and suspected vehicles.

Patna, Oct 4: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday held a crucial meeting with 12 recognised political parties in Patna ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar chaired the meeting and assured that all suggestions put forward by the parties would be considered before finalising the poll schedule. The ruling JD(U) sought Assembly polls to be held in a single phase.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha, who represented the party, demanded that the Assembly polls be conducted in a single phase.

“We have thanked the Commission for successfully conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. We have requested that the Bihar elections be held in one phase. Law and order and Naxalism are no longer issues in Bihar. If elections can be held in one phase in Maharashtra, why not here? Paramilitary forces should be deployed at all polling stations so that the poor face no difficulties in voting,” Jha said.

Jha also suggested that election dates should be fixed, keeping in mind the Chhath festival, so that people returning home for the festival can also cast their votes.

On the other hand, the RJD’s Aurangabad MP Abhay Kushwaha and the party’s election convener Chitranjan Gagan, who represented the party at the meeting, demanded that polling be conducted in two phases.

“We have asked the CEC to release the data of the 3.64 lakh voters deleted during the SIR process. We have also sought complete security arrangements in Dalit, Mahadalit, extremely backward and backward caste villages, so that these communities can vote freely. In the past, they were often prevented from voting,” Kushwaha said.

Responding to the BJP’s demand that women in burqas be verified by female officers, Kushwaha said: “A new voter list with photographs has already been published after the SIR. Despite this, if the BJP is making such demands, it is nothing but politics.”

The ECI’s consultations mark a significant step in finalising preparations for the high-stakes Bihar polls.

Political observers believe the Commission may announce election dates shortly, with voting likely to take place in multiple phases across the state.

Mumbai: A Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) jawan lost his life after falling from a crowded local train on Friday. The incident, which took place between Malad and Goregaon, has once again raised serious concerns over commuter safety during peak hours.

The deceased has been identified as 31-year-old Ganesh Jagdale, who was attached to the Dahisar police station. According to reports, Jagdale had finished his night duty and boarded a Churchgate-bound local from Dahisar around 8:30 am. The train, packed with commuters during the morning rush hour, left him standing precariously close to the door.

Between Malad and Goregaon stations, Jagdale was reportedly caught in a wave of pushing and jostling inside the compartment. Unable to maintain his balance, he fell off the moving train and landed on the tracks. Gravely injured, he was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The Borivali Government Railway Police (GRP) registered a case of accidental death. Jagdale had only recently been transferred from Vanrai police station in Goregaon East to Dahisar police station, where he had joined duty just a day earlier.

This accident adds to a growing list of fatalities caused by overcrowding in Mumbai’s suburban trains. Despite repeated incidents, safety measures remain a major concern, with thousands of daily commuters continuing to risk their lives by travelling on open footboards.

Amid rising criticism, the Indian Railways on Friday announced that a prototype of a closed-door local train has been developed and will soon undergo pilot trials. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier assured that all newly manufactured trains would be equipped with automatic door-closing systems. Efforts are also being made to retrofit the existing fleet to curb accidents caused by passengers falling from open doors.

The move follows the June 9 Mumbra tragedy, where eight commuters died after falling from a crowded train. Officials stress that automatic door closures will majorly enhance passenger safety and reduce such fatal mishaps.