Imphal: Ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, security has been beefed up at vulnerable locations following the recovery of a large cache of explosives from the Jiribam–Tipaimukh Road in Manipur’s Pherzawl district.
Pherzawl, the least developed district in Manipur, shares its borders with Mizoram and Assam to the west and Myanmar to the south.
Two alleged arms smugglers, along with a vehicle, were also arrested during the operation on Thursday, officials reported on Saturday.
A joint team of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police heightened security measures ahead of the Republic Day celebrations and intercepted a Bolero vehicle during the operation.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 30 gelatin sticks, 20 detonators, safety fuse, flexible wire, and approximately Rs 1 lakh in cash. The Bolero vehicle used to transport the materials was also seized.
The two alleged arms smugglers were taken into custody by the Assam Rifles, the report stated. It added that the apprehended individuals, along with the seized items, were later handed over to the concerned police station for further legal proceedings.
The identities of the arrested persons were withheld for security reasons. The report further said that an investigation is underway to determine the source and intended destination of the explosives and to identify possible links to a larger network operating along the Manipur–Myanmar border.