Manipur: Huge weapons cache recovered from 5 hotspots

Imphal: Security forces conducting multiple operations targeting five hotspots in four sensitive districts of Manipur have recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and other combat materials over the past 24 hours.

A joint team of Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Manipur Police carried out a series of search operations at Langol Hills, Luwangshangbam and Champhai Hills in Imphal East district, Imphal West district’s Khelakhong, Churachandpur district’s Kangvai and Gelbung village in Bishnupur district, the police said in a statement of Thursday.

The operations that resulted in the recovery of a huge cache of weapons have been considered significant due to the ongoing violence in the state and potential threats from various militant groups.

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The recovered items include four SLR rifles with magazines, three .303 bolt action rifles, three 9mm pistols with a magazine, 20 live rounds of ammunition, four HE 36 hand grenades, two detonators, a tube launching, a rubber bullet and two SMK grenades.

The other recovered items include a long-range walkie-talkie set, a country-made mortar bomb without cartridge, a long-range improvised mortar shell, a long-range improvised mortar, a bullet proof jacket and six other items.

Moreover, two pumpis (improvised mortars), four HE 36 hand grenades, two pumpi shells, three detonators, 29 empty cases, a stun grenade, a stinger grenade, a tear smoke grenade and two radio sets with chargers were also recovered during the operations.

The confiscated items were later handed over to the police.