Guwahati: The Indian Army and Assam Rifles have apprehended four individuals involved in anti-national activities in Manipur in two separate incidents.

In the first incident, one person was apprehended in New Keithelmanbi Village, Imphal West District with an illegal weapon on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

The individual has been identified as Chungkhomang Kipgen.

Acting on specific inputs regarding his involvement in a firing incident in Moidangpok Village, resulting in three villagers sustaining injuries, the security forces swiftly apprehended the individual.

However, Kipgen has been handed over to Manipur Police. Further investigation is underway.

In another incident, two houses were torched by a mob in Imphal East district after four armed men, including a former MLA, forced people to shut their shops on Monday.

No casualty was reported due to the arson. The empty houses were used for providing rented accommodation to people.

As per sources, the mob also beat up one of the miscreants while others managed to flee. Three of them were later taken into custody.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh said one of the three arrested men was a former MLA of the northeastern state which was shaken by clashes between Meitei and Kuki community people since May 3.

As per official, “Four-armed people threatened shopkeepers in New Chekon area to down their shutters and subsequently moved to New Lambulane area of Imphal East district. Three of them were apprehended with two single-barrel 12-bore guns. They were handed over to the police.”

“We will initiate legal action against those involved in illegal activities. We have also decided to acquire 20 more companies of security personnel from the central forces,” official added.

Action will also be taken against those who are involved in inciting hate and enmity on social media inside and outside the state in due course of time. FIRs will be registered and they will be punished, official further added.

Currently, at least 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles jawans are deployed in the state. Security forces are conducting aerial surveillance by unmanned aerial vehicles and Cheetah helicopters.