Security forces seize weapons, large ammunition cache in Manipur hill districts during joint ops

Guwahati: Security forces comprising Manipur Police, Assam Rifles/ Army and CAPFs conducted extensive search operations in the hill districts of Manipur in the last few days.

A large cache of arms, ammunition, and other warlike materials has been recovered. Security forces recovered 155 weapons, 1652 ammunition besides four binoculars, 15 communication sets and a telescope.

Police said that during multiple operations conducted in the hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, Tengnoupal and Chandel districts over the past few days this recovery has been made.


The intelligence-based operations by joint teams comprising police, Central Armed Police Forces, Assam Rifles and the army led to the recovery of eight AK series rifles, two INSAS rifles, four carbines, one SLR, eight 9mm pistols, fourteen 12 bore guns, 21 single bore guns, 14 country-made pistols and other rifles, police said.

According to police, 31 pompi (locally made mortars), 39 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 13 hand grenades, and over 1,600 rounds of ammunition were also seized.

"These continued intelligence-led operations in the hill districts represent a major accomplishment for Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, army and other security forces in their continued mission to restore peace, uphold public order and safeguard the lives and properties of citizens," police added.

Recently the security forces in joint operation have recovered 90 arms and around 728 different types of ammunition in restive Manipur.

Of the 90 arms recovered, five are INSAS rifles, four are Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), followed by three AK series rifles, seven 303 rifles, 20 pistols, four carbines, eight rifles, 20 SBBL and Bore Action rifles, three anti-riot guns, and remaining different types of weapons.

The recovered ammunition includes 21 grenades, explosives, mortar shells, tube launching, and Improvised Explosive Devices.

Forty-one assorted magazines and six wireless handsets were also recovered during the operations.According to the police official, 21 assorted magazines and 24 wireless handsets were also recovered along with the arms and ammunition.

On July 15, the security forces in joint operation recovered 86 arms and around 974 different types of ammunition from Manipur’s five Imphal valley districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

On July 4, the security forces in joint operations recovered 203 arms, mostly sophisticated and around 160 different types of ammunition from four hill districts -- Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Churachandpur.

Earlier on June 14, security forces in joint operations recovered 328 arms and around 9,300 different types of ammunition from five Imphal Valley districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.