The security forces had a major success as they recovered large amounts of arms and ammunition in violeence hit state of Manipur on October 19. Search operations were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Kakching, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. During the operations, a huge cache of arms, ammunition, and equipment was recovered from Wakan, Shantipur and Khamenlok ridges under the Sagolmang police station in Imphal East district. The joint team of security forces recovered a total of 36 numbers of arms, consisting of three AK-47/ 56 – , one 51mm Mortar, one Modified UBGL, two improvised RL, one improvised Rifle, four 303 Rifle,seven 7.62mm SLR ,four Carbine Machine Gun, one MP-5, one Lathode Launcher, eight Improvised Gun (Pumpi) , one Revolver (local made).
Total ammunition and explosives – 1615 numbers were also recovered by the security forces. The recovery consisting of 920 numbers of INSAS Rifle round , INSAS Rifle fired case – 38 numbers, CMG live round – 28 numbers, 7.62mm fired case – 44 numbers, 82 Hand Grenade , 12 bore kartoos – 72 numbers, HD Cart – 50 numbers, Arming Ring – 40 numbers, 2” Mor Cap – 3 numbers, 3” Mor Bomb HE – 2 numbers, 2” Mor Bomb HE – 47 numbers, 2” Mor ILL – 6 numbers, 2” Mor Smoke, Hand Grenade (W/P) – 24 numbers, Detonator 7 sec – 28 numbers, Detonator 4 sec, Tube Launching Rif Grenade – 3 numbers, Det. No. 75 Mk II – 3 numbers, 7.62mm Tracer – 2 numbers, 7.62mm BDR – 126 numbers, .303 Rifles Ammunitions – 35 numbers, Local made pistol Ammunitions – 20 numbers, Pistol .9mm Rd – 38 numbers, 7.62mm SLR.
Total equipment recovered in the search operation are – 132 numbers consisting of Tube Launching – 77 numbers, AK-47, Mag 9mm CMG – 4 numbers, Sight Mounting Bracket – 1 numbers, INSAS Rif mag – 6 numbers, SLR Mag – 6 numbers, .303 Rifle Mag – 2 numbers.
It should be mentioned that mob looted 5669 types of arms and around 500,000 rounds of ammunition from police stations and armouries. So far around 1600 of them were recovered by security forces in several search operations across the state.
On 17th October, search operations were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Imphal-East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Thoubal and Imphal West districts. During the operations, a joint team of security forces and state police recovered 08 arms (Assault Rifle-01, .303-01, SMG Carbine-03, Sten Gun-01, 9mm Pistol-02), 62 ammunition, 18 explosives, 01 country-made local Bomb launcher (Pompi) 02 wireless sets (KENWOOD), 02Tube Launching, 01 Smoke Grenade and 05 BP Jackets in Imphal-East district. 02 arms (9 mm Pistol with magazine), 01 Local made single barrel gun, one 12mm bore live round, 01 Heavy calibre machine gun rounds 21, Heavy Mortar (10ft), 01 country-made improvised bomb, 01 rocket-propelled grenade were recovered in Old Dampi village in Churachandpur district.
Joint operations were also conducted by the combined team of state and central security forces at Phubala area, Kumbi Thingel Leikai, Saiton Hyeikon village, Moirang Khunou Mayai Leikai in Bishnupur District, Kasturi crossing, Thangal bazar, Moidangpok Khunjao village in Imphal West District, Langmeithek village, Tentha Khunou, Tejpur Mayai Leikai, Likla Kambong village, Kiyam Litanpok area in Thoubal District, Pallel Maning Leikai, opposite Pioneer English School and adjoining areas, Bijoypur Mamang and Maning Leikai in Kakching District.
More than 600 houses were searched, and over 1400 people were verified. No arrests were made. Moreover, joint operations were also conducted in Vajing and adjoining areas, Khoinui village, Tollen village, and adjoining areas in Churachandpur District. In these search operations, around 150 houses were searched, and around 200 people were verified.
