Manipur: Security forces seize arms and ammunition in Thoubal and Kakching

Guwahati: Security forces deployed in the Northeast state of Manipur have recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and war-like stores during different operations conducted over the past 24 hours.

Acting on specific intelligence input on the presence of arms and ammunition in Thoubal district’s Pechi area, troops of the Assam Rifles, along with the Manipur police and state commandos, carried out a search operation in the area on Friday (April 12).

The search operation resulted in the recovery of a bolt action rifle, a 9mm carbine, a 9mm pistol, four 51mm mortar bombs, eight grenades, ammunition and other war-like stores. The recovered arms and ammos were later handed over to the local police, the Assam Rifles said.

On the other hand, security forces while conducting search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas of both the hill and valley districts of the state, recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and other combat items, the Manipur police said.

The recoveries, that were made from Kakching district’s Hiyanglam Lukak Yangbi area, include a locally made .303 Light Machine Gun (LMG), a rifle with magazine, two locally made single barrel guns, seven 36 hand grenades without a detonator, four smoke grenades, eight 2-inch mortar shells, three locally made bombs and a grenade projector.

The other recoveries include two tube launching weapons, five grenade rings, three .303 chargers, three hand-held sets, four Patka ballistic helmets, a locally made Bullet Proof (BP) plate, seven BP jackets, one set of camouflage uniform, four magazine posts, one sling, one pair of hunting boots and a black leather boot.

Meanwhile, the Manipur police have installed a total of 130 ‘nakas’ and checkpoints in both the hill and valley districts, and detained as many as 225 persons over the past 24 hours in connection with various violations of the law.

Moreover, strict security measures are being taken in all the vulnerable locations and a security convoy is being provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of vehicles, especially along the National Highways 37 and 2.