Imphal, August 28: Security forces in Manipur seized a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives—including a US-made M16 rifle—during intensified search and area domination operations across the state on Wednesday, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The biggest recovery came from the jungle area between Maohing and Changoubung villages in Kangpokpi district, where forces recovered an M16 rifle with a magazine and 10 rounds, a looted .303 rifle with two magazines, a CMG with its magazine and two rounds, a 7.62 mm LMG barrel, a lathode with two rounds, three pistols including a US-made pistol with three magazines, a .22 rifle with 40 rounds, six bolt-action rifles, two single-barrel rifles, and 12 rounds of 12 mm ammunition. The haul also included three improvised projectile launchers (pumpis), two hand grenades, four Baofang radio sets, and three bulletproof jackets.
In a separate operation at Kotzim village in Kangpokpi district, security forces recovered a 9 mm carbine with its magazine, a single-barrel rifle, three pull-mechanism rifles, three improvised mortars, and two hand grenades.
Another search conducted in Khongnangpokpi area of Imphal West led to the seizure of a pompi gun, a country-made rifle, a hand grenade, a radio handset, and a charger.
Authorities said the operations were part of ongoing measures to curb the movement of illegal arms and enhance security in the strife-torn state.
