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Imphal, Nov 2 (IANS) Eight militants of different banned outfits were arrested by security forces from five separate Manipur districts during the past 24 hours, and some arms and ammunition were recovered from them, officials said on Sunday.

A police official said that the arrested militants belonging to different extremist groups — the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — were arrested from Jiribam, Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

He said that the hardcore militants were involved in various crimes, including intimidation, forcible collection of subscriptions from people, government employees, contractors and others.

Some small arms, an improvised explosive device, Aadhaar/PAN cards, several mobile phones, along with additional SIMs and a car, were recovered from the arrested militants.

Security forces in separate operations have recovered some arms and ammunition from the mountainous Kangpokpi district.

The recovered arms and other war-like stores include five locally made bolt-action single-barreled guns, two wireless sets and many combat shoes and dress.

The Manipur Police official said that the security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination in the fringe, mixed-populated and vulnerable areas across districts.

According to the official, a total of 115 nakas/checkpoints were installed in different districts of Manipur, both in the hills and the valley region, to prevent untoward and illegal movements of inimical elements and suspected vehicles.

He said that the security forces have provided escorts to a large number of vehicles carrying essential items along Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).

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

Manipur Police urged the people not to believe in rumours and be vigilant of false videos. “The veracity of any circulation of unfounded videos, audio clips, etc, may be confirmed from the Central Control Room. Moreover, there are possibilities of many fake posts being circulated on social media. It is hereby cautioned that uploading and circulation of such fake posts on social media will attract legal action with consequences,” a police statement said.

The police authority also appealed to the concerned people to return the looted arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or the nearest security forces post immediately.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 20 (IANS) The BJP’s Karnataka unit on Saturday alleged that the menace of illegal immigrants has crossed all limits in the state and urged the Congress-led government to implement the Centre’s directives and initiate stringent action strictly.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed that instead of deporting nearly 20 lakh illegal immigrants allegedly residing in Karnataka, the Congress government was “systematically nurturing them as a vote bank”.

“The menace of illegal immigrants has crossed all limits across the state. Illegal immigrants pose a serious threat to national security,” Ashoka said, accusing Congress of adopting a soft stance whenever action is initiated against them.

Referring to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to weed out illegal immigrants from voters’ lists, Ashoka alleged that the Congress had taken to the streets under the pretext of “vote theft” to oppose the move.

He further claimed that the number of illegal immigrants involved in crimes such as murder, assault, extortion, robbery, rape and riots had increased in recent years. “Due to the Congress government’s excessive appeasement politics, illegal immigrants are obtaining Aadhaar cards and other documents and availing government benefits,” he alleged.

Quoting a report, Ashoka said police officers had estimated the presence of 15 to 20 lakh illegal immigrants in Karnataka and alleged the existence of an “ecosystem” facilitating the procurement of identity documents. He claimed they were also involved in cybercrime, prostitution, drug peddling and other serious offences.

Ashoka urged the state government to strictly comply with the Centre’s orders and take firm action, including the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Responding to the allegations, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said earlier that more than 200 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants had been deported from the state over the past few months. He acknowledged complaints of such immigrants working as construction labourers and said the process of identification and deportation was ongoing.

“The State Government will take steps to deport illegal immigrants immediately. This is a continuous process,” Parameshwara told reporters, adding that officials of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office would identify such individuals and inform the police.

He asserted that the government would not be soft on illegal immigrants and rejected the BJP’s allegation that the Congress uses them as a vote bank, stating that the party had never been in a position where it needed votes from illegal immigrants to win elections.

–IANS

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Gandhinagar, Aug 22 (IANS) Heavy rainfall continued across Gujarat over the past 24 hours, with showers reported in 212 talukas across 33 districts.

Valsad’s Pardi taluka recorded the highest rainfall at 4 inches, followed by Dharampur with 3 inches, while Khervagam (Navsari), Kaprada (Valsad) and Talod (Sabarkantha) received more than 2 inches, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning to fishermen, advising them not to venture into the sea along Gujarat’s coastal belt from August 22 to 25 due to rough weather conditions.

As of now, the state has received an average of 681.14 mm rainfall, accounting for 77.24 per cent of the season’s quota.

South Gujarat leads with 80.51 per cent of seasonal rainfall, followed by Kutch (80.26 per cent), Saurashtra (77.39 per cent), North Gujarat (75.87 per cent), and East-Central Gujarat (73.40 per cent).

Water levels in reservoirs have surged, with the Narmada Dam, considered Gujarat’s lifeline, now at 80.84 per cent capacity.

Across the state, 206 other reservoirs are filled to 75.74 per cent of their capacity. Authorities have placed 73 dams on high alert, 35 on alert, and 16 under warning. The monsoon has also triggered large-scale evacuations.

Since June 1, 2025, nearly 5,205 people have been shifted to safer locations, while 900 citizens have been rescued.

To deal with emergencies, 12 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 20 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed across the state. One NDRF and 13 SDRF teams are kept on standby at headquarters.

Gujarat’s 2025 monsoon has been marked by extremes — early surge, patchy distribution, and sudden cloudbursts.

June turned out to be the wettest in a decade, with around 288.70 mm of rainfall, or nearly 33 per cent of the annual average, falling in just one month.

By late June, the state had already received over 34 per cent of its seasonal quota, a record pace compared to previous years.

The rain, however, was uneven. South Gujarat and Kutch saw rainfall above 80 per cent of their average, while Saurashtra struggled with long dry spells and deficits, with some talukas recording as little as 23 per cent–36 per cent of normal rain.

–IANS

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