Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal
Imphal, May 21: In a significant security operation, Manipur Police along with central forces recovered 67 arms, including 27 AK-series rifles and 11 US-made firearms, along with a large quantity of ammunition and explosives during coordinated raids over the past 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.
A senior police officer said four militants belonging to the UNLF-Pambei faction were also arrested during the operations carried out in Imphal West district.
Acting on intelligence inputs about the illegal sale of looted weapons in the Lamshang area, security forces launched a targeted operation on Wednesday at Lamdeng under Lamshang police station limits.
During the initial raid, two active cadres of the group, identified as Heishnam Thomas Singh and Arambam Tomtom Singh, were arrested along with an INSAS rifle, a light machine gun, magazines and live ammunition.
Police said that while the arrest was underway, associates of the accused opened fire at security personnel, prompting a brief exchange of fire.
Following the incident, two more militants — Ningthoujam Rakesh Singh and Chingakham Mahesh Singh — were also taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the firing and arms trade.
Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that the accused were attempting to sell recovered weapons under instructions from a senior cadre of the outfit. They also admitted involvement in earlier instances of illegal arms trafficking.
Based on these disclosures, joint teams of Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted a follow-up cordon-and-search operation at an unauthorised militant camp in Lamdeng.
During this search, security forces recovered 29 additional weapons, including AK-series rifles, M-series rifles, pistols and other sophisticated firearms.
In a separate operation on Thursday, another 38 weapons were seized, including AK and M-series rifles, a sniper rifle, carbines, shotguns, mortars, an RPG-7 launcher, an anti-drone jammer and a large stock of explosives and ammunition.
Authorities have urged the public to report any information regarding looted or illegally held weapons to the nearest police station or security agency.
The UNLF-Pambei faction had signed a peace agreement with the Centre in 2023, committing to renounce violence. However, officials noted that some members of the group have since been involved in alleged arms trafficking and other illegal activities.
In a separate development along the India-Myanmar border near Border Pillars 72 and 73 in Tengnoupal district, security forces recovered additional weapons, including a Self-Loading Rifle, a pistol, communication devices and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which were later destroyed on the spot.