IMPHAL, July 4: In a significant development pointing to the growing intensity of anti-insurgency efforts in Manipur, police arrested a man in Imphal East for illegal possession of firearms, while a major arms cache was unearthed in a forested area of Churachandpur district.

On July 2, Manipur Police apprehended 41-year-old Thokchom Rajesh Meitei of Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai from Bamon Kampu Makha Leikai under Irilbung Police Station. During the operation, security personnel seized a .32 pistol with a magazine, one live .32mm round, and a 7.62x30mm AK rifle round from his possession. The arrest was part of intensified search operations and area domination drives in vulnerable fringe zones of the state.

The following day, July 3, security forces discovered a significant cache of weapons hidden in the forest of Maovom village under Churachandpur Police Station. The seizure included a country-made AK rifle with magazine, a lathode gun, four country-made pistols with magazines, three single-barrel rifles, a locally manufactured sten carbine, and four pump-action firearms of various sizes.

Also recovered were large quantities of ammunition: six live 5.56mm rounds, six spent 5.56mm casings, one live 7.62mm AK-47 round, nine empty 7.62mm casings, three live pump-action rounds, six 12-gauge cartridges, and two empty 7.62mm SLR/BDR casings. An empty lathode round casing was also found at the site.

In addition to firearms and ammunition, security personnel seized tactical gear including a bulletproof jacket, helmet, a Baofeng walkie-talkie (sans antenna), and a pair of jungle boots—hinting at the preparedness of groups hiding in these forested locations.

In another parallel operation the same day, police recovered a .32 pistol, two empty magazines, and two live .32mm rounds from the Wangoo Naodakhong area under Kumbi Police Station in Bishnupur district.