KANGPOKPI, May 2: In a major security operation in Manipur, central and state police forces on Thursday busted five abandoned temporary militant camps and seized a significant cache of military-grade weapons in Kangpokpi district.

According to police reports, the intelligence-driven joint operation targeted five Kuki villages—Lungphou, Maohing, Makhom, Kangchup Chiru, and Phaileng—all located within the Kangpokpi district.

During the search operations at Lungphou and Maohing villages under the jurisdiction of Kangpokpi police station, the security forces recovered one SLR rifle, one locally made .303 rifle with a magazine, one locally made bolt-action rifle, one 12-bore single-barrel gun, one Pumpi, two empty 7.62 mm SLR magazines, ten live 7.62 mm rounds, and two live hand grenades without safety pins and chain levers.

Further searches in Makhom and Kangchup Chiru villages led to the recovery of two SLRs with two magazines, one INSAS rifle with one magazine, one 12-bore SBBL (single barrel breech loader), one .22 rifle, one Pumpi gun, one long-range improvised mortar (Pumpi), two No. 36 hand grenades, one multi-grenade launcher live ammunition, and three 12-bore live ammunition.

In Phaileng Kuki village, the final phase of the operation yielded two 7.62 mm SLRs, one 9 mm carbine machine gun, one locally made gun, two 7.62 mm SLR magazines, and one 9 mm carbine machine gun magazine, according to the official reports.

The operation highlights the continuing effort of the security forces to dismantle insurgent networks and secure volatile areas in the region.