A police commando from Manipur was killed during an anti-drug operation in Thoubal district on Wednesday. According to officials, he was stabbed to death by a drug-trafficking suspect attempting to evade arrest. The incident comes as a major blow to the state’s security establishment, which is already engaged in an intensified campaign against narcotics trafficking and insurgent activities.

The officer who was martyred has been identified as Khoirom Suresh, a head constable from the Thoubal district commando unit.

Fatal attack ensues during drug recovery operation

Officials aware of the incident said that the tragic development unfolded on Wednesday at around 8 pm in the Moijing Meena Bazar in the Thongkhong area of Thoubal district. A team of commandos had apprehended a suspect, identified as Md Naobi alias Naocha (25), a resident of Moijing Leingoijin, in connection with a drug-related case. During interrogation, Naobi allegedly revealed information about a stash of narcotics hidden at a separate location.

Acting upon the disclosure, the cops escorted the suspect to the site to recover the concealed contraband. However, the operation took a violent turn when a confrontation reportedly broke out between the accused and the police personnel. Investigators said Naobi allegedly attacked head constable Suresh with a sharp-edged weapon, stabbing him numerous times before fleeing the scene.

The officer, who had sustained multiple wounds, was rushed to Thoubal district hospital, where doctors tried saving his life. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Two held after the attack

In the aftermath of the attack, the police launched a manhunt and arrested Naobi along with one of his aides, identified as Salman Khan (30), a resident of Moijing Maibam Leikai in Thoubal.

According to officials, a probe is underway to ascertain the involvement of other individuals in the incident, along with unearthing the broader network linked to the drug-related case.

Security forces continue operations across the state

The officer’s killing comes in the thick of heightened security operations across Manipur, aimed at tackling insurgency and illegal drug activities. Police said that over the past two days, security forces have laid hands on five militants belonging to various banned underground organisations from multiple locations across the state, including areas near Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 67 close to Khangtung village in Chandel district.

Among the ones detained were cadres linked to the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). Meanwhile, in a separate operation, the security personnel also swooped down on another active PREPAK cadre from Sawombung Khunjao in Imphal East district.