Imphal: Security forces recovered a large cache of military weapons, including arms, ammunition, explosives, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), from 13 vulnerable locations across Manipur on Friday.
Police said that security forces made the largest single-day recovery in the state so far this year.
In Thoubal district, forces seized multiple firearms and ammunition from various foothills. At Tekcham Sanji Ching, they recovered three bolt-action single-barrel rifles, a CMG carbine with a magazine, a .32 pistol, a 9mm pistol with magazines, and 14 live rounds of various calibers.
At Haokhong Ching, authorities recovered two .32 pistols, five bore-action single-barreled rifles, and four HE mortars, while at Tentha Marongband, they found a .32 pistol, a 9mm pistol, two bolt-action rifles, and 13 live rounds.
In the Leirongthel Pitra Maning Ching area, security forces also seized an improvised .303 rifle, two .32 pistols, a bore-action rifle, a No. 36 HE hand grenade, and 17 live rounds.
In Imphal West, recoveries included an SLR with three magazines, two locally made bolt-action guns, a modified sniper-type rifle, 11 pistols with magazines, 85 live rounds, three shells, a camouflage helmet, four camouflage vests, three magazine pouches, and a green belt.
In Kakching district, authorities recovered an INSAS rifle with two magazines, an AK-56 rifle, a 9mm pistol, two single-barrel guns, a dummy gun, three HE grenades, detonator fuses with wires, tube launching devices, 41 live rounds, and a Baofeng handset.
Tengnoupal district saw the seizure of nine IEDs, a pistol, 16 live rounds, a 12-bore rifle, and two Motorola radio sets in the SL Zougam area.
Between Loisi and Saivom villages, forces recovered one locally made gun, a .32 pistol, two pompis, 42 live rounds, 29 IEDs, 17 hand grenades of various types, seven stun grenades, five electric detonators, seven ignitor fuses, two Motorola radio sets, and two magazine pouches.
Near Yangoubung village, they recovered three 9mm pistols, a M-79 grenade launcher, 12 IEDs, and four radio sets, with all IEDs safely destroyed on-site.
In Kakching, Manipur Police arrested Laishram Ashok Meitei (42), an active cadre of the proscribed Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL), at Waikhong PS. Authorities seized a .303 rifle loaded with nine rounds, 23 live rounds, and a 12-bore cartridge.
In Imphal East, recoveries included an MK-III .303 rifle, seven 12-bore guns, three country-made 9mm pistols, two locally made bombs, a WP-80 smoke grenade, 19 live rounds, an SLR magazine, two bayonets, and a SIMOCO handset.
From Keirao Wangkhem, forces seized four country-made pistols, a 12-bore gun, a .303 rifle, a country-made rifle, and three INSAS magazines.
In the final operation at the foothills of Huitrubi (Tera Makha) Ching, authorities recovered three country-made pistols, a hand grenade, two smoke bombs, two INSAS LMG magazines, 20 live 9mm rounds, a pair of binoculars, and a wireless radio set with a charger.