Imphal: Security forces on Monday recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives during intensified operations in Kangpokpi district, on Monday.
The operations were conducted in the general area of Tingkai Khullen village under New Keithelmanbi police station and in the vicinity of Maohing and Changoubung villages under Kangpokpi police station.
“During the search operations, we recovered one Insas rifle with magazine, one .303 rifle fitted with a telescope sight and magazine, one locally made lathode, one .32 pistol with magazine, four locally made bolt-action rifles, two canon pumpis, one M16 rifle, one MA1 assault rifle, one sniper rifle, another .32 bore pistol, seven single barrel rifles, four bolt action rifles, six pull-mechanism rifles, two improvised mortars, and four tube launchers,” a senior police officer said.
“We seized 50 rounds of .303 ammunition, two lathode shells, ten rounds of 12 mm bolt-action ammunition, two pumpi shells, one 84mm RL high-explosive round, 61 rounds of 7.62 mm AK blank rounds, seven single barrel blank rounds, and 23 rounds of 7.62 mm SLR blank rounds. We also recovered four hand grenades, two Baofeng wireless sets, two bulletproof plates, two handheld radio sets, two No. 36 hand grenade arming rings, one sniper rifle magazine, four No. 36 hand grenade detonators, and one magazine for a .32 pistol.”
“The operations are part of a series of intensified combing efforts across vulnerable and fringe areas in the state,” said the senior police officer.
Since the outbreak of violence in Manipur in May 2023, more than 250 people have been killed, over 60,000 displaced, and more than 6,000 weapons looted from government armouries.
