Armed Cadres Steal 6 SLRs and 3 AK Rifles from Manipur Rifles Outpost in Thoubal
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Synopsis
Unidentified armed groups have looted numerous weapons and large quantities of ammunition from a Manipur Rifles outpost in Thoubal district. The incident involved a local armed faction overpowering personnel at gunpoint. Following the robbery, security forces initiated operations to recover the stolen items.
Key Takeaways
- Armed groups looted 6 SLRs and 3 AK rifles.
- Over 6000 sophisticated weapons were stolen during riots.
- Police continue to recover looted arms and ammunition.
- Three militants were arrested in Imphal West District.
- Local authorities have warned legal action against looters.
Imphal, Feb 9 (NationPress) Unidentified armed groups have stolen numerous weapons and a substantial amount of ammunition from a Manipur Rifles outpost located in the Thoubal district, according to officials on Sunday.
A police representative stated that a local militant faction arrived in three vehicles and seized at least six SLRs, three AK rifles, and various types of ammunition, including 12 magazines, from the Manipur Rifles outpost situated in the Kakmayai area of Thoubal on Saturday night.
The armed individuals initially overpowered the Manipur Rifles personnel and conducted the heist at gunpoint.
Following the incident, additional security forces, led by senior police officials, swiftly arrived at the scene and initiated a large-scale combing operation to apprehend the armed robbers and recover the stolen arms and ammunition.
Multiple official and unofficial sources reported that during the ethnic riots that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, over 6,000 different types of advanced weapons and vast quantities of ammunition were looted from police stations and outposts by mobs, attackers, and militants.
Nevertheless, a considerable number of the stolen arms and ammunition have been recovered thus far, and searches by Central and state security forces continue to locate the remaining weapons.
These stolen arms have played a crucial role in escalating the violence in Manipur, with both village volunteers and militants in both valley and hilly regions acquiring substantial quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunition.
The Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, along with the Home Department and various political figures, have repeatedly urged those who looted to return the weapons to police, warning of legal action if they do not comply.
In a related development, police apprehended three militants in the Imphal West District and seized several pistols, two motorcycles, and some mobile phones from them. Police officials reported that all three were directly involved in coercive extortion from villagers, government officials, contractors, shopkeepers, and businesspersons.
