GG News Bureau
Imphal, 14th June: In a significant breakthrough, joint security forces in Manipur have recovered a massive cache of 328 arms and approximately 9,300 different types of ammunition. This operation marks the first major success of its kind since ethnic violence erupted in the state on May 3, 2023.
Early Saturday morning, based on specific intelligence, security teams launched simultaneous search operations across five Imphal valley districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.
These joint teams included personnel from Manipur Police, Army, Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). They successfully seized a substantial number of weapons and war-like stores from the outskirts of these districts.
Recovered Weapons Detail
Of the 328 arms recovered, the inventory includes:
- 151 Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs)
- 73 rifles
- 65 INSAS rifles
- 12 Light Machine Guns (LMGs)
- 6 AK series rifles
- 5 carbines
- 6 pistols
- Many other diverse types of arms
In addition to firearms, roughly 9,300 various types of ammunition were found during these operations.
Commitment to Normalcy
A statement from Manipur Police hailed these intelligence-based operations as a major achievement in their ongoing efforts to restore normalcy, maintain public order, and ensure citizen safety. The police reiterated their commitment to a peaceful and secure Manipur and urged the public to cooperate. They asked residents to report any suspicious activities or illegal weapons to the nearest police station or Central Control Room.
Senior police officials are closely coordinating with all security stakeholders to ensure these operations continue, aiming to further stabilize the state and enhance safety.
Official reports previously indicated that during the ethnic riots, over 6,020 sophisticated arms and lakhs of ammunition were looted from police stations and outposts. As of March 6, about 1,000 looted weapons and a huge cache of ammunition had been returned to security forces following an appeal by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in February.
