Did Security Forces in Manipur Recover 86 Arms and 974 Types of Ammunition?

Imphal, July 15 (NationPress) In a remarkable turn of events, security forces conducted a joint operation on Tuesday, successfully recovering 86 firearms and approximately 974 assorted ammunition in the troubled region of Manipur, according to officials.

A senior police representative indicated that early Tuesday morning, based on specific intelligence reports concerning a substantial stockpile of weapons and ammunition hidden across various locations in five districts of the Imphal valley, simultaneous search operations were initiated.

The joint teams, comprising personnel from the Manipur Police, Army, Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), uncovered a significant cache of arms and a vast amount of ammunition and war-related supplies from the five districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

Among the 86 firearms retrieved, there are 16 Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), nine rifles, five each from the AK series and .303 rifles, three INSAS rifles, 19 pistols, two carbines, 16 SBBL and Bore Action rifles, two anti-riot guns, and 11 various other firearms.

The recovered ammunition includes grenades, high explosives, mortar shells, tube launching mechanisms, and Improvised Explosive Devices. Additionally, 41 assorted magazines and six wireless communication devices were seized during the operations.

The coordinated operations were executed simultaneously across multiple sites in the peripheral and suspected areas of the five valley districts.

These intelligence-driven initiatives signify a major achievement for the Manipur Police and security forces in their ongoing effort to restore peace, maintain public order, and protect the lives and property of citizens, as stated by officials.

The Manipur Police emphasizes its dedication to creating a peaceful and secure environment in the state. The statement encouraged the public to work in collaboration with the Police and Security Forces and to report any suspicious activities or information concerning illegal arms to the nearest police station or the Central Control Room.

Senior police officials continue to work closely with all security partners to ensure that such operations remain consistent and focused, aimed at restoring normalcy and protecting the lives and property of all citizens, the statement added.

This recovery of arms on Tuesday marks another significant success within the month.

Earlier, on July 4, security forces in joint operations seized 203 weapons, predominantly sophisticated, along with around 160 varying types of ammunition from four hilly districts: Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Churachandpur. Just a month before, on June 14, security forces recovered 328 firearms and approximately 9,300 different types of ammunition from five districts in the Imphal valley: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.