During a big security move, the forces seized more than 200 weapons, such as assault rifles and explosives, in a matter of several hours in four hill districts of Manipur. As per Additional Director General of police (ADGP) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, the operations were carried out on specific inputs of intelligence on late Thursday night by a joint team of security agencies, in which a huge stock of arms and ammunition was found concealed in offbeat places.
These synchronised campaigns, run by joint forces of the Manipur Police, the Assam Rifles, the Indian Army, and forces of the Central Armed Police Forces, have all aimed to target several suspected locations in Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Chandel and Churachandpur districts. The raids were successful till Friday morning, when a substantial amount of weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered.
Of the weapons retrieved, 21 INSAS rifles, 11 AK-series, 26 self-loading rifles (SLRs), two sniper rifles, three carbines, 17.303 rifles, two MA assault rifles, three M79 grenade launchers, 11 single barrel bolt action, 9 pistols, 18 single shot breech loaded and 38 Pumpis which is used to collectively refer to the improvised light weapons. Also, forces retrieved 109 rounds of various types of ammunition, 30 IEDs, 10 grenades, nine Pumpi shells, and two lathode grenades.
ADGP Lhatoo added that the Manipur Police is determined to make the environment peaceful and secure for everyone. He encouraged the people to join with the security agencies to report any suspicious activity or information about illegal arms to the nearest police station or the Central Control Room at the earliest, before they commit the crime.
On X, police earlier posted that at least 11 firearms had been recovered in two different operations in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. One criminal was thrown behind bars in Imphal East on the charge of unlawfully possessing a handgun.
Since May 2023, Manipur has been struggling against extreme ethnic violence that has already taken away 260 lives and displaced thousands of other people who have settled in relief camps.
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