Manipur cops nab 4 village volunteers with 17 arms and huge ammunition

Seventeen different types of sophisticated weapons were among a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered by the Manipur police in a follow up action to the arrest of four alleged village volunteers.
The police, in its daily law and order update issued late on Monday, said four members of a certain Keishal Village Volunteer Organization were arrested from their respective residences for transporting illegal arms and ammunition and committing prejudicial activities.
They were identified as Rajkumar Sidharth (33) of Sagolband Bijoy Govinda in Imphal West, Laishram Rameshor Meitei (44) of Lairikyengbam Leikai in Imphal East, Athokpam Brojendro Singh alias Mukin (45) of Top Awang Leikai in Imphal East and Laishram Sachikanta Singh alias Naothing (25) of Top Awang Leikai in Imphal East. All four arrested are said to be members of a Keishal Village Volunteer Organization, a group of village defence volunteers and were actively engaged in “transporting arms for unlawful purposes”, the police said.
The seized weapons were one AK rifle, two AK Ghatak rifles, one INSAS rifle, two 7.62mm SLRs, two 9mm carbines, three .303 rifles, one defective 9mm pistol along with one magazine, one modified .303 rifle mounted with a scope, two 7.56mm INSAS rifles, one 7.62mm SLR and one AK rifle.
More than a thousand rounds of live ammunition of different calibres, empty cases, barrel cartridges, and several magazines were also seized. Explosives such as highly explosive hand grenades, Chinese grenades, and WP grenades with detonators were found along with tube launchers.
Other items recovered included Baofeng wireless sets with extra batteries and chargers, bulletproof vests and plates, camouflage helmets, mobile phones, Aadhaar cards, and arms accessories. A case has been registered and police have launched an investigation to trace the source of the weapons and the wider network behind the supply.
The police described the seizure as a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms in Manipur, warning that such activities pose a grave threat to public safety.
The police further reiterated its appeal to the public to surrender any arms, ammunition, and explosives to the nearest police station or security forces.
Two cadres of different outfits were also arrested during the ongoing crackdown on extortion and other illegal activities in the valley districts, the police said.
It said that an active cadre of KCP (Noyon) faction identified as Laikhuram Bhogendro Singh @ Inao (58) was arrested from Iranpham Thongkhong under Porompat police station of Imphal East district on Monday.
An active cadre of PREPAK identified as Irengbam Ibomcha Meitei @ Anthony (42) of Thingkhangphai village of Churachandpur district currently staying at Gouranagor in Imphal East district was arrested from Gourangor area under Lamlai police station of Imphal East district on the same day.
The police alleged them of being involved in the extortion of money from the government offices, officers, businessmen and public as party funds.