Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal
Imphal, Oct 27: Security forces in Manipur have arrested a suspected cadre of the Kuki National Front (MC) and recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosive-related materials, including foreign-made weapons, during separate operations in Churachandpur and Imphal East districts, officials said on Tuesday.
A police official said Manipur Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Assam Rifles launched an intelligence-based joint operation at the hilly Kingkin village in Churachandpur district on Monday night.
During the operation, the joint team intercepted a suspicious vehicle and carried out a search, leading to the recovery of arms and ammunition. One person, identified as Letkhothang Khongsai, 23, a resident of D. Lhangjol village, was arrested.
During preliminary questioning, Khongsai disclosed that he was a cadre of the Kuki National Front (MC), a group operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement, the official said.
In a separate intelligence-based joint operation, the Quick Action Team of the CRPF and Manipur Police commandos recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the foothills of Bongbal Khollen in Imphal East district.
The weapons seized during the two operations included one foreign-made AK-series rifle, one foreign-made MA1 rifle, one A1 rifle with a magazine, one .303 Light Machine Gun (LMG), one 9 mm pistol with a magazine, two 12-bore double-barrel guns, three 12-bore single-barrel guns and one locally made 9 mm pistol with a magazine.
The security personnel also recovered three 36 mm hand grenades without detonators, one Chinese hand grenade, one MG-2 rifle grenade, one Pompi shell and four wireless radio sets along with one charger. A large quantity of assorted ammunition was also seized.
In addition to the weapons and ammunition, two transparent plastic packets containing brown sugar, weighing approximately 1.027 kg, were recovered during the operations, officials said.
Meanwhile, security forces comprising central and state personnel have intensified their crackdown on militant groups across Manipur. Search operations and area-domination drives are being conducted in fringe areas, mixed-population localities and other vulnerable areas across various districts to strengthen security and prevent unlawful activities.
Security personnel are also providing escorts to vehicles, including trucks transporting essential commodities, along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur (Nagaland)-Guwahati National Highway (NH-2).
Strict security arrangements and convoy-protection measures remain in place along sensitive stretches of the highways to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of vehicles, particularly those carrying essential supplies.
NH-37 and NH-2 are the two crucial lifelines of Manipur, connecting the state with the rest of the country.