16 ANFO IEDs recovered in Manipur

Security forces recovered at least 16 paste-type ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil) improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from Lungdeiphai Leinom village junction in Kangvai area under Churachandpur police station, amid intensified operations in restive Manipur following fresh incidents of firing and bombing in the valley districts.
According to Manipur police, the explosives were seized on Thursday and later neutralized by the bomb disposal squad. The recovery site lies a few kilometres from Torbung and Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district, which witnessed indiscriminate firing and bombing on December 16 night.
The discovery comes in the backdrop of renewed tensions in the valley districts after internally displaced persons (IDPs), who had returned to their homes after more than two years, were shaken by the recent violence. State police have registered an FIR against Kuki armed groups in connection with the firing incident.
Joint security forces have since intensified combing operations and area domination measures. During the operations, a three-kg IED, several improvised firearms including long and medium-range “pumpi” guns, a single barrel firearm, and 17 empty cases of different calibres were also recovered. All explosives were safely disposed of.
Meanwhile, officials of the 19 Gorkha Regiment assured resettled IDPs in Torbung that there would be no further firing or bombing in the area. With the assurance, resettlement resumed on Thursday.
In a separate development, security forces conducted aerial surveys using drones and helicopters in hill areas of Tengnoupal district adjoining Heirok in Thoubal, before deploying additional personnel to sensitive fringe zones.
In another unrelated operation, four cadres of UNLF (Pambei) were arrested for allegedly hijacking a truck carrying iced fish boxes along NH-02 under Sekmai police station. The hijacked truck, fish boxes, and two tipper trucks used in transporting the consignment were also seized.