Security forces have recovered a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives during coordinated anti-insurgency operations carried out in three districts of Manipur, officials said on Tuesday.
The operations were conducted jointly by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police in Bishnupur, Kangpokpi and Thoubal districts. The security forces also arrested an alleged active cadre of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba) during the operations.
In Bishnupur district, security personnel launched a search operation near Loktak Lake, on floating biomass locally known as phumdi, close to Sendra Hill under Moirang Police Station. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the forces conducted a three-hour operation and dismantled a temporary militant camp.
The search resulted in the recovery of several weapons, including a .32 pistol, a single-barrel breech-loading gun, a .22 bolt-action rifle and a Jefferson rifle. Security personnel also recovered nine locally manufactured carbine firearms, two locally made MP-5 firearms, three Lathode guns, two Pompi guns and six packets of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), along with other accessories.
Meanwhile, Manipur Police arrested an alleged active cadre of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba), identified as self-styled Major Arambam Bobo Singh, 42, from Wangoo Mameiching in Kakching district.
Following his interrogation, security forces carried out a cordon-and-search operation in Makokching jungle under Saikul Police Station in Kangpokpi district on August 2.
The operation led to the recovery of an M16 rifle, a Mark III rifle, a sniper rifle, a .22 bolt-action gun and 25 single-barrel guns. Seven pistols, 76 rounds of live ammunition, 179 empty cases, a rifle magazine, four Pompi guns, 36 hand grenades, 20 detonators and four Baofeng radio sets were also seized.
In another operation near Ekok Pat Lake along the Arong riverbank in Thoubal district, security forces recovered two INSAS rifles, an MP-5 submachine gun, an SLR, two .303 rifles, eight magazines, a smoke bomb and 379 rounds of live ammunition.
The recoveries highlight continued security operations aimed at disrupting armed groups and preventing the movement and use of illegal weapons and explosives in Manipur.