Imphal, July 16: In a major crackdown on illegal arms, security forces in Manipur recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition during coordinated operations across five valley districts in the early hours of July 15. Acting on precise intelligence inputs, joint teams comprising Manipur Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the Army, and Assam Rifles launched simultaneous search operations in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts.
The extensive operations led to the seizure of 86 weapons, including 5 AK-series rifles, 3 INSAS rifles, 16 Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), 5 .303 rifles, 19 pistols, 9 rifles of unspecified types, 16 SBBL/Bore action guns, 6 bolt-action guns, 2 anti-riot guns, 2 carbines, 1 Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC), 1 double-barrel breech-loading (DBBL) gun and 1 two-inch mortar.
Additionally, 974 rounds of live ammunition were recovered, including 526 rounds of 7.62 mm, 226 rounds of 5.56 mm, 190 rounds of .303, and small quantities of 9 mm and .32 mm ammunition. Explosive materials recovered included 9 grenades, 6 HE mortar shells, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and 2 tube launchers. The teams also seized 41 assorted magazines and 6 wireless handsets.
Senior police officials hailed the success of these intelligence-led operations as a major stride towards restoring peace and normalcy in the region. Authorities reiterated their commitment to continued security efforts, urging public cooperation and the immediate reporting of any suspicious activity related to illegal arms or explosives.
