IMPHAL, March 25: Security forces conducted extensive search operations and area domination exercises in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts, leading to significant recoveries of arms, ammunition, and explosives.

During an operation in the general area of Lokchao under Moreh-PS in Tengnoupal District, security forces recovered a country-made 9 mm pistol with a magazine, two long-range improvised mortars, six IEDs weighing approximately 12 kg, five hand grenades, two 9 mm live rounds, four AK live rounds, three 7.62 mm SLR live rounds, nine long-range improvised mortar rounds, nine AK fired cases, and two Motorola RS.

In another operation at Seijang Laiching under Yaingangpokpi-PS in Imphal East District, the recovered items included a .22 rifle, a 12 DBBL rifle, four 51 mm mortars, a 9 mm pistol with an extra magazine, eight No. 36 hand grenades, two IEDs, five stun grenades, ten tear smoke grenades, a tear chilli grenade, two Baofeng radios with chargers, four tube launchers, two 12 bore live round ammunition, ten 9 mm live round ammunition, and sixty 7.62 live round ammunition.

A separate operation at Shamushang Shantipur Maning Leikai near a fish farm hut under Wangoi-PS in Imphal West District led to the recovery of an SLR with a magazine, a DBBL gun, two No. 36 hand grenades without detonators, three green smoke hand grenades, four tube launchers (IA), two Baofeng sets, a smoke grenade, three headgear, and two LMG magazines.

Another major operation was conducted in the foothills of Dampi Ridge along Village Maojang and Dampi Village under Churachandpur-PS in Churachandpur District. Security forces seized an AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine, a .303 rifle with an empty magazine, a 12 bore rifle with an empty magazine, a double-barrel rifle, a modified SKS rifle with an empty magazine, two modified long-range mortars/Pompi (one 4 feet and one 5 feet), two No. 36 hand grenades, eleven 7.62 mm bullets, two .22 caliber bullets, three pipe bombs, two helmets, a BPJ cover, and a Baofeng walkie-talkie.

These operations underscore the continuous efforts of security forces in curbing illegal arms and maintaining law and order in the region.