Security forces seize large cache of arms and explosives in intensified operations across Manipur

[Representational Photo : iStock]


In a series of intensified search and area domination operations, joint security forces, including the Manipur Police, Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Assam Rifles (AR), have made significant recoveries of arms, ammunition, and explosives in various districts of Manipur.

These coordinated efforts, aimed at neutralising insurgency threats in the region, underscore the ongoing battle to restore peace and security in the state’s vulnerable hill and valley areas.

One of the major operations saw the Manipur Police and Army uncover a substantial cache of weapons and explosives.

Among the seized items were two 9 mm SMG carbines with magazines, a 12-bore single-barrel gun, a 9 mm pistol, and a .32 caliber pistol. The forces also recovered five HE-36 hand grenades, four arming rings, two tube launchers, and live rounds of ammunition.

In addition, various protective gear, including a bulletproof iron plate and jacket, as well as a tear smoke grenade, stun shells, and a Baofeng walkie-talkie radio set, were seized, further bolstering the security forces’ efforts to disarm hostile groups.

Operations in Churachandpur district also yielded significant results. In Moavom village, security personnel recovered two large country-made rockets, one measuring 5.5 feet and the other 3 feet, along with a collection of mortars, including a large and medium-sized country-made mortar and four mortar bombs.

Pistols with magazines, live rounds of ammunition, and a single-barrel rifle were also seized. Explosive-grade materials weighing 6.3 kg, as well as 17 meters of Cortex and 9 meters of fuse, were part of the confiscation.

In Moljol village, security forces, including teams from the ITBP and Assam Rifles, discovered four improvised heavy mortars (known locally as Pumpi), three 12-bore RDS, and three improvised mortar bombs. The findings further highlighted the region’s ongoing threats and the importance of continued surveillance and counter-insurgency operations.

In another significant development, the Manipur Police conducted a search in the Khongnangpokpi hill range of Imphal West district, where they recovered two MP5-A3 machine pistols with magazines, an INSAS Excalibur rifle, and 37 live rounds of ammunition.

These large-scale recoveries are part of a broader strategy by security forces to dismantle insurgent networks, which have posed a persistent threat to the stability of the region.

The presence of sophisticated arms and explosives underscores the scale of insurgency-related activities in Manipur, necessitating the sustained efforts of the security apparatus.

The state, which has been grappling with ethnic and insurgency-related violence, continues to witness a heightened level of security. Authorities have remained vigilant, particularly in fringe and remote areas where insurgents are believed to operate.

The ongoing seizures of weaponry and explosive materials signal a strong commitment by security forces to disrupt and dismantle insurgent operations, safeguarding the region from further violence.