Over 200 weapons, 30 IEDs recovered in Manipur hill districts

Security forces recovered over 200 weapons, including firearms, and war-like stores in four hill districts of Manipur, officials said on Friday.

INSAS rifles, self-loading rifles (SLRs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were among those found in joint operations between Thursday midnight and Friday morning.

Officials said, "Acting on specific intelligence regarding the presence of a large cache of arms, ammunition, and other war-like materials concealed in various locations, coordinated operations were launched simultaneously at multiple sites in the interior and suspected areas of Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Churachandpur districts by joint teams comprising of Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, Army and CAPFs."


The recovered weapons included 21 INSAS rifles, 11 AK series, 26 SLR, two snipers, three carbines, 17 .303 rifles, two MA assault rifles, three M 79 grenade launchers, 11 single-barrel bolt action, nine pistols, 18 single-shot breech loaded rifles and 38 Pumpis. The Pumpi is a term used for various improvised light weapons.

The forces also found 109 ammunition of different types, including 30 IEDs, 10 grenades, nine Pumpi shells and two lathode grenades.

Various official reports, political parties claimed that during the ethnic riots more than 6,020 varied types of sophisticated arms and different types of ammunition were looted from the police stations and police outposts by mobs, attackers and militants.