Imphal, Aug 2: The security forces in Manipur, in separate intelligence-based operations, have arrested nine militants belonging to different banned insurgent outfits and recovered arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials during the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

A senior police official said the nine militants were apprehended in Thoubal, Tamenglong, Kakching, Chandel, Imphal West and Imphal East districts during coordinated operations by the Manipur Police and other security agencies.

The arrested militants belong to the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), its political wing the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).

According to the police, the arrested insurgents were allegedly involved in a range of criminal activities, including kidnapping and the forcible collection of “subscriptions”, a euphemism commonly used by insurgent groups for extortion.

The security personnel recovered several incriminating documents, subscription receipts, cash, seals and letterheads of the banned outfits, Baofeng communication handsets and various other materials from the possession of the arrested militants.

In another joint operation, the security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from a forest area under Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal district, which shares an unfenced international border with Myanmar.

The recovered items include one 9 mm pistol, one double-barrel gun, six radio sets, two hand grenades and six powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Police said the IEDs were safely destroyed on the spot by the bomb disposal team following standard operating procedures.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, accompanied by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) in charge of Law and Order and Intelligence, visited the historic 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles in Imphal, one of the oldest battalions in the state with a legacy spanning 134 years.

During the visit, the DGP was briefed about the history of the Manipur Police, beginning with the raising of the 1st Manipur Rifles in 1892, and its evolution and contributions over the years.

An official statement said that the Manipur Police is not only a law enforcement agency but also an integral part of the state’s history, growth and institutional reforms.

The DGP inspected several key facilities of the British-era heritage battalion, including the Quarter Guard, the Manipur Police Officers’ Club, the Banquet Hall, the Transport Wing, the Parade Ground, the Church, the Temple, the Canteen and the Petrol Pump.

He also interacted with officers and personnel of the battalion, during which various issues relating to the revamping of the unit, adherence to deployment protocols, regular inspections and compliance mechanisms were discussed in detail.

The statement said that valuable feedback and suggestions were shared to ensure the battalion’s continued development and the implementation of projects suited to modern-day policing requirements.

Meanwhile, the security forces, comprising both Central Armed Police Forces and the Manipur Police, have continued extensive counter-insurgency operations, including search operations and area domination exercises, in fringe, mixed-population and other vulnerable areas across the state.

As part of the intensified security measures, a total of 111 nakas and checkpoints have been set up across both the valley and hill districts to curb the movement of militants, anti-social elements and suspicious vehicles.

The security forces have also been providing escorts to vehicles, including trucks transporting essential commodities, along the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).

Strict security arrangements and convoy protection continue to remain in place in vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of passenger and goods vehicles.

The Manipur Police have also appealed to the public not to believe rumours or unverified information and advised people to remain vigilant against fake videos and misleading content circulating on various social media platforms.

Kolkata, Aug 2: Following the instructions of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Enforcement Branch and Kolkata Police raided various markets across the state, including Kolkata, on Sunday to keep vegetable prices under check after rates skyrocketed in the last few weeks.

Enforcement Branch officials raided Shyambazar, Kole Market, Garia Bazaar, and Jadu Babur Bazar in Kolkata. In addition, local officials visited various markets across the state and spoke to sellers and buyers to understand the market situation.

They asked the vegetable sellers about the prices they were selling. An official said, “A few of our teams have gone out. They are saying that the prices are the same in the different markets. But monitoring is being done to ensure that prices do not vary from one market to another.”

On the other hand, the police also checked the markets in several districts.

The Kolaghat block administration and Panshkura Purba MLA, Subrata Maity, made a surprise visit to vegetable markets and fertiliser shops in Deulia Bazar and Kolaghat areas of East Midnapore district.

The MLA inquired whether potatoes, onions and other vegetables were being sold at the correct price in shops. He also talked to the sellers. After that, the officials went to the local fruit markets and fertiliser shops. They inquired from the farmers whether the fertiliser was being charged at high rates.

The Enforcement Branch also raided the Kachari market in Baruipur of South 24 Parganas district. Officers from the Baruipur Police Station, Baruipur Municipality and Baruipur BDO office were present during the operation.

The operation was also conducted in Shantipur of Nadia district.

Traders and sellers said that the price of vegetables soared due to continuous rain in July and a shortage of supply.

However, there were allegations of price manipulation in the wholesale and retail markets. Papaya and pumpkin were not available below Rs 30. In some places, these are being sold at Rs 40 per kilogram. Brinjal was selling at over Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kilogram. Two days ago, the prices were even higher. Green chillies were being sold at Rs 200 per kilogram, while tomatoes were being sold at Rs 115 to Rs 120 per kilogram. However, many said prices generally increase during the monsoon season, and then come down as the season ends.

Bhopal, Aug 2: The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its crackdown on illegal commercial activities operating from residential buildings across the city.

As of now, the civic body has issued 1,018 notices to such establishments, with the highest number—429—served in the Arera Colony and Bawadiya Kalan areas, officials said on Saturday.

Officials have made it clear that units failing to comply with regulations despite receiving notices will face sealing.

City Planner Anil Tatwade of the BMC said that the action is being carried out across the entire city.

“This action will take place across the whole of Bhopal. It has just begun from Arera Colony and will also be carried out in Rohit Nagar. Surveys are being conducted everywhere. Data is being collected from all locations wherein there are commercial properties, if they have permission for commercial properties or is it a residential area, whether they have changed the land use… Then action will be taken as per Supreme Court guidelines,” he told media.

To ensure smooth conduct of the operation and prevent any untoward incidents, around 100 police personnel were deployed alongside the Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment squad.

The police and municipal teams worked jointly throughout the drive.

Traders’ associations have appealed to hotels, restaurants, showrooms, and other business owners to keep their establishments closed until the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled for August 4.

However, municipal officials reported that some traders reopened their shops after the teams had left the area.

Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Bhuvan Gupta clarified that the entire operation is being conducted strictly in accordance with Supreme Court directives.

He noted that all building owners had already been issued notices as per the rules.

Most traders voluntarily halted their business activities, while sealing action was taken against those who failed to comply.

The BMC has reiterated that the drive will continue city-wide, with surveys and data collection ongoing in various localities to identify unauthorised commercial use of residential properties.

Officials emphasised that strict action, including sealing of non-compliant establishments, will follow wherever violations persist.

The civic body aims to enforce land-use regulations uniformly and restore the residential character of affected neighbourhoods.