Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Joint security forces recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and war-like stores during a series of search operations conducted in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, police said on Thursday.
The recovered items included a 5.56 mm Excalibur rifle, eight single-barrel rifles, four improvised mortars, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), five lathods, 236 live rounds of ammunition of various calibres, two magazines and a Baofeng communication handset.
The recoveries were made amid heightened tensions in the district and ongoing efforts by security forces to curb the movement of armed groups and illegal weapons.
Meanwhile, two Naga civil society organisations-the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) and the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) have strongly criticised the outcome of a recent joint operation carried out by the CoBRA unit of the CRPF and the Assam Rifles in the Leilon Vaiphei area of Kangpokpi district.
According to the organisations, nearly 100 armed Kuki militants who had allegedly been surrounded during the operation were allowed to leave the area instead of being apprehended. The operation was launched to trace those allegedly involved in the abduction of 18 Naga civilians and the killing of six others.
In a statement, the FNCC claimed that the operation, which was initially aimed at making arrests, eventually turned into a negotiated surrender process. The organisation further alleged that political intervention influenced the course of the operation, resulting in the withdrawal of security personnel despite the militants being reportedly encircled.
The FNCC alleged that cadres belonging to KNF(P), UKNA and KRA were subsequently allowed to move to the KNF(P) Ebenezer Camp without being arrested.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the outcome, the committee demanded accountability and justice for the victims. It also questioned the effectiveness of security operations against armed groups operating in the region.
The NPO echoed similar concerns, stating that no arrests had been made in connection with the killings of six Naga civilians. The organisation noted that the bodies of the deceased remain at the JNIMS mortuary as investigations continue.
Additionally, the NPO condemned the alleged use of force against protesters at Namdilong-Kanglatongbi on June 24 and warned that continued actions of this nature could trigger intensified democratic protests by Naga organisations.
Both organisations urged authorities to ensure justice for the victims and take decisive action against those responsible for the violence.