86 weapons, 974 ammunition recovered
Manipur police on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a peaceful and secure Manipur as the security forces made yet another major recovery of arms and ammunition during search operations across the five valley district in the last 24 hours.
A combined team of state police and the Central security forces, in their ongoing search operations to recover illegal arms and ammunition, seized a total of 86 arms of different types along with 974 rounds of live ammunition in the early hours of today (July 15).
The recovery was made during simultaneous search operations in five valley districts –Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur district, state police IGP (Zone II ) K Kabib claimed.
Addressing a news conference at the police headquarters in Imphal today, the IGP said that the simultaneous search operations were launched acting on specific intelligence on the presence of a cache of arms and ammunition and warlike materials concealed at various locations.
“Coordinated operations were launched simultaneously at multiple locations by joint teams comprising Manipur police, central armed police forces, army and Assam Rifles and recovered the large cache of arms and ammunition” he said.
The senior police officer said that the operations resulted in the recovery of 86 weapons including five AK series rifles, three INSAS rifles, sixteen self-loading rifles (SLRs), five .303 rifles, nineteen pistols, two carbines, nine other rifles, sixteen SBBL and bore action guns, two anti-riot guns, one JVPC, one double-barrel gun, six bolt-action guns, and a two-inch mortar.
Apart from these huge firearms, the IGP said, the combined teams recovered nine grenades, six high-explosive mortar shells, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and forty-one assorted magazines.
The ammunition seized included 526 live rounds of 7.62 mm, 226 rounds of 5.56 mm, 190 rounds of .303, seven rounds of 9 mm, and four rounds of .32 mm. The forces also confiscated six wireless handsets and two tube launchers, he added.
Forty-one assorted magazines and six wireless handsets were also recovered, he added.
The IGP described the operations as a major success in the ongoing effort to neutralize illegal arms networks and restore peace and security in the state.
“The operations underscore the close coordination among security agencies and the proactive approach being taken to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of citizens,” he said.
“This continued intelligence related operations represent major accomplishment for the police and security forces in their mission to restore peace, uphold public order and safeguard lives and properties of citizens” he claimed.
The IGP reiterated Manipur police’s commitment to fostering a peaceful and secure Manipur and urged the public to cooperate with police and security forces and “to promptly report any suspicious activities or information related to illegal arms to the nearest police station or central control room.”
The senior officers of the police remained in close coordination with all security stakeholders to ensure such operations continue in a sustained manner, aimed at restoring normalcy, maintaining public order, he maintained.
Tuesday’s recovery was the second time in which the combined teams of state police and security forces made a significant recovery of illegal weapons in the valley districts of the strife-torn Manipur in recent time.
In June, the state police and the Central security forces recovered 328 weapons during simultaneous operations across Meitei dominated five valley districts on the intervening night of June 13 and 14.
They also made a huge recovery of 203 arms in the first week of July from four Kuki dominated hill districts.
After nearly two years since the clashes broke out in May 2023 between the two communities that have claimed 260 lives so far, President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 last.
Since then, the police and security forces intensified their search operations to recover illegal and looted arms after the Governor who is currently the head of the state administration made an appeal to surrender the same within a stipulated time.