KOLKATA — The Army and Assam Rifles have recovered 35 weapons, ammunition,
and explosives, in joint operations with the state police and other security
forces, from several parts of Manipur over the week leading up to India's
Republic Day, officials said.
According to a senior official of the Eastern Command, the
recoveries were made both from the hill and valley regions in the districts of
Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur, Churchandpur, Imphal West, Noney, Jiribam and
Kakching.
"On January 19, a joint operation was launched by the
Army, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police in Lungkhongjang Ridge, north of Bungte
Chiru village in the Bishnupur district in which a modified sniper rifle, five
9mm pistols, two single barrel rifles, grenades, ammunition, and other war like
stores were recovered. The next day, in collaboration with the CRPF and state
police, the Army launched an operation near the Khuga river and fringes of
Dampi Ridge located along the boundaries of the Bishnupur and Churachandpur
districts and recovered a 9mm sub-machine gun, a .303 rifle, a pistol, a single
barrel breech-loading gun, a country made mortar, a grenade launcher, grenades
and ammunition," the official said.
On January 20, the Assam Rifles acted on intelligence inputs
about an infiltration attempt along the India-Myanmar border near Yangoupokpi
in the Tengnoupal district and apprehended a youth.
During questioning, the youth claimed to be a member of the
Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), the official added.
"On January 20, another operation was launched by the
Assam Rifles near Maohing in the Noney district and recovered a 9mm
country-made pistol, a .303 rifle, an improvised projectile launcher, grenades,
and ammunition. On January 23, the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police raided a
location near Ngamukhong Fungi Ching (Leingangpokpi) in the Thoubal district
and seized a country-made pistol, a single-bore country-made rifle, 10 No. 36
hand grenades and ammunition. On the same day, in a joint operation with
commando teams of the Manipur Police, the Assam Rifles apprehended two KCP
(PWG) cadres with two 9mm pistols and ammunition near between Heirok and
Wangjing in the Thoubal district. Another raid between Zairawn and Uchatol in
the Jiribam district led to the recovery of a carbine, a single barrel gun,
grenades, and ammunition," the official said.
On January 24, joint raids between Gamngai and Pheijang in
the Chandel district and near the Potsangbam Khullen hill range in the Imphal
West district resulted in the recovery of a 9mm pistol, a locally made mortar
(Pompi), an improvised explosive device (weighing nearly 1 kg), a self-loading
rifle, a carbine, a .32 calibre country-made pistol, two 51mm mortars, grenades
and ammunition.
On the eve of Republic Day, joint operations near Thangjao
Mamang Ching and Sekmai (Tendongyan), led to the seizure of two .303 rifles, a
9mm pistol, a .32 calibre pistol, grenades, and ammunition, the official added.
