IT News
Imphal, April 13:
In a significant counter-insurgency breakthrough, a combined team of Manipur Police and Central Armed Forces recovered a substantial cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives during a joint operation in Imphal East district on Sunday morning. The operation, launched based on specific intelligence from local sources, targeted a suspected hideout in the Natum Ching area near Sanasabi village under Yaingangpokpi Police Station.
The operation began at around 4:30 a.m. and involved personnel from the Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles, Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB), 4 Mahar Regiment, and three columns of the Border Security Force (BSF). During the search, the team discovered that unidentified armed miscreants had concealed a range of sophisticated weapons and explosive materials in the area.
Among the items recovered were three No. 36 hand grenades, eight detonators, and four tube launchers of various lengths—two measuring 3 feet 5 inches, one measuring 2 feet, and another 1 foot 11 inches. The team also recovered four rubber bullets, one 84 mm ILLG para bomb, and an empty shell of an 81 mm ILLG para bomb.
Additionally, one INSAS LMG magazine, two bulletproof jacket plates, one full bulletproof jacket, and one metal inner barrel (MK-IV) were found at the site. The forces also seized fifteen live rounds of 7.62 mm AK ammunition and thirty empty cases of 7.62 mm SLR ammunition.
The recovery of such a large quantity of war-like stores indicates a clear threat posed by unidentified insurgent elements who are believed to have stashed the materials for future use. Authorities suspect the cache was intended for attacks or to supply armed operatives in the region, which continues to be marred by ethnic unrest and armed conflict.
A senior police official involved in the operation stated that the successful seizure was the result of timely intelligence and coordinated efforts among the security forces. He added that investigations are underway to trace the origin of the weapons and identify those behind the stockpiling.
Security measures have since been intensified in and around the area to prevent any possible retaliation or further threats. The incident underscores the continuing need for vigilance, robust intelligence networks, and sustained search operations to prevent the proliferation of illegal arms and to safeguard civilian lives in Manipur.
