Arms, ammunition recovered in Manipur

RPG (Rocket-propelled grenades), IEDs and sophisticated assault rifles were among caches of arms and ammunition recovered by the security forces in their ongoing search and area domination operations in different parts of strife-torn Manipur. The police said the caches were recovered in separate operations in the fringe areas of Churachandpur, Kakching, Imphal West and Imphal East on Saturday.
The security forces have been conducting search operations in the fringe and vulnerable areas across the violence-hit districts to recover illegal arms and ammunition including those looted from the police armouries during the initial days of the outbreak of the ethnic crisis on May 3, 2023.
The security forces continued to conduct search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas across the districts.
The operations on January 24 resulted in the recovery of caches of arms and ammunition from the fringe areas of Churachandpur, Imphal West and Imphal East districts, the police said in its daily law and order update on Sunday.
It said that the security forces recovered three RPGs, five 30mm grenades, one Bolt Action Rifle (303 caliber), two single barrels, three Pumpi (local made canon) shells and 10 SBBL cartridges in one of the operations in the area between Loilamkot and Nalon in Churachandpur district on Saturday.
One IED and one kg of explosives were among a cache of arms and ammunition recovered during another operation at Waheng Khuman area under Wangoi police station of Imphal West district on the same day.
Other items recovered included two modified .303 rifles, three pistols with a magazine each, three grenades, one detonator and four mortar bomb shells, the police said. Another operation in the foothills of Naotrok hill range under Sagolmang police station of Imphal East district led to the recovery of two guns (one each of DBBL and country-made 9mm pistol with magazine) and two hand grenades.
One practice rifle grenade, two magazines of INSAS rifles, 20 rounds of live ammunition of different calibers, one BP helmet, two BP covers and two BP iron plates were also included among the recovered items, they said.
Meanwhile, a combined force of Manipur police commandos and a column of 46 Assam Rifles conducted a joint search operation at Elangba Ching under Wangoo police station of Kakching district on the same day.
On searching at a secluded area near bushes, the combined force intercepted a plastic sack containing arms and ammunition suspected to be kept concealed by unknown miscreants.
While opening the plastic sack, it was found containing one Ghatak assault rifle (bearing regd. no 203900351) five DBBL guns, four hand grenades without detonators, two empty magazines of AK and INSAS LMG, four tube launchers, 10 each live rounds of INSAS rifle and AK rifle, 15 live round of.303 rifle, 10 empty cases of SLR, four AK empty cases, eight tear smoke grenades, eight tear smoke shell soft nose (SR), two BAOFENG handsets etc., the police said.
Meanwhile, security forces in Pherzawl district arrested two persons along with explosives on January 22. They were identified as C Sangkunga Mizo (58) of Surtuinek village and Michael Lalnithang (27) of Sibapurikhal.
The security forces intercepted them at a place between Buraikhal and Lower Kharkhuplien under Parbung police station of the district.
Thirty gelatin sticks, 20 detonators, safety fuse, 20 meters of wire and cash of Rs 1.02 lakhs were recovered from their possession, the police said.