India, April 15 -- Security forces in Manipur have arrested eight individuals, including five militants from various insurgent groups, drug smugglers, and suspected looters, over the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the Manipur Police, two active cadres of the banned underground outfit People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (PREPAK-PRO) were arrested in a joint search operation in different parts of the state.

One of the militants, identified as Saikhom Sasndip Singha (32) of Saikhom Leikai, Sonao Bazar in Cachar (Assam), was apprehended in Bidya Nagar area of Jiribam Police Station. The second, Irengbam Robinson Singh (25) of Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, was arrested from his residence under Bishnupur...