Imphal: In one of the largest coordinated crackdowns in recent months, security forces in Manipur recovered 86 illegal weapons and nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition during a massive operation across five valley districts on Tuesday.
The joint operation, based on specific intelligence inputs, was carried out by combined teams of Manipur Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the Indian Army, and Assam Rifles.
The raids were conducted simultaneously in Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, and Bishnupur districts, Inspector General of Police (Zone-II) K Kabib said at a press briefing.
Among the cache of seized arms were five AK-series rifles, three INSAS rifles, 16 self-loading rifles (SLRs), five .303 rifles, two carbines, nine other types of rifles, 16 single-barrel guns, and 19 pistols.
In addition, authorities recovered 974 rounds of ammunition, various explosives including grenades and mortar shells, 41 magazines, and six wireless handsets.
IGP Kabib described the haul as a major success in the ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms and stabilise the law and order situation in the state.
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“This operation marks a significant step in restoring peace and public safety in Manipur,” he said.
“We urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any information related to illegal weapons or suspicious activity. Community cooperation is vital in ensuring long-term security.”
The security forces have intensified surveillance and search operations across sensitive regions in recent weeks, in a bid to dismantle armed networks and recover unauthorised weapons fuelling unrest in the state.
