Manipur tightens security ahead of President’s visit after firing, arrest, arms recovery
Imphal: Unprecedented security measures have been stepped up ahead of the proposed visit of India’s President to Manipur, with the arrest of an insurgent and the recovery of weapons amid indiscriminate gunfire by suspected Kuki militants, officials reported on Thursday.
Large-scale security deployment has been intensified at vulnerable and sensitive locations along the route where the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will be visiting on December 11 and 12.
Officials reported that ahead of the President’s visit, suspected Kuki militants fired several rounds in the Khamenlok area in Imphal East under the Sagolmang Police Station on Wednesday.
Gunshots were heard by both State security personnel and Central forces deployed in the Sagolmang and foothill areas.
The firing lasted for several minutes, and around 70 rounds were fired by the suspected Kuki militants.
Security forces arrested an active cadre of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council–Progressive) near the Inter-State Bus Terminus under Imphal Police Station in Imphal West district.
Shamurailakpam Devshwar Sharma, also known as Amo (26), of Langol Laimanai in Imphal West district, was arrested along with a mobile phone.
Based on his disclosure, the security forces recovered a substantial cache of weapons from the Phubala Mamang Patton area under Moirang Police Station in Bishnupur district.
The following items were recovered during the second phase of the operation:
- One SLR without magazine
- Two SBBLs
- One 9 mm pistol with a magazine
- One revolver pistol
- One No. 36 HE hand grenade without detonator
- One detonator
- Two PEKs weighing 200 g
- Five 7.62 mm SLR live rounds
- Two 12-bore live cartridges
- One rubber bullet shell
- One Baofeng handset
- One helmet
- Two bullet-proof jackets