Manipur police, security forces recover over 300 weapons in joint operations across five valley districts | India News

NEW DELHI: The Manipur police, in joint operations with personnel of Central armed police forces (CAPFs), Army and Assam Rifles, have recovered 328 arms, including 151 self-loading rifles, in intelligence-based operations undertaken across five Valley districts during the intervening night of May 13 and 14.The recoveries include 65 INSAS rifles, 6 AK series rifles, 73 rifles, 12 Light Machine Guns (LMGs), 5 carbine guns, 2 MP5 guns, 2 Amogh rifles, 1 mortar, 6 pistols, 2 barrel guns, 1 AR15 and 2 flare guns.A huge cache of ammunition was also seized, including 591 magazines, 3534 SLR rounds, 2176 INSAS rounds, 2252 .303 rounds, 235 AK series rounds, 407 Amogh rounds and 20 9mm rounds. As many as 10 grenades and 7 detonators were also seized.“In the intervening night of 13.06.2025 and 14.06.2025,on receipt of specific intelligence regarding presence of large cache of arms and ammunition etc. stashed in different areas of valley districts, simultaneous search operations were launched at different locations in the outskirts of 05 (five) valley districts by joint teams of Manipur Police, CAPFs, Army/ AR and the following arms/ ammunitions/ explosives/ warlike stores were recovered by the joint teams,” office of Manipur DGP Rajeev Singh said in a statement on Saturday.It further said that “these intelligence-based operations mark a major achievement for the Manipur police, the security forces, in their continued efforts to restore normalcy, maintain public order, and ensure the safety and security of citizens and their property. “The public is urged to cooperate with the police & security forces and report any suspicious activities or information related to illegal weapons to the nearest police station or Central Control Room,” the police said in its statement.Senior police officials are coordinating with all security stakeholders to ensure that such operations continue in a sustained and focused manner to restore normalcy, maintain public order, and ensure the safety and security of citizens and their properties, added the police.Sources said around 5000 weapons have been recovered from across Manipur since ethnic violence broke out, of which a little less than 1,100 were surrendered. Remaining were seized by police and security forces during raids and searches.As per CRPF sources, 991 weapons were surrendered between Feb 20 and expiry of the deadline set by Manipur governor Anay Bhalla in his appeal to rebels for voluntarily returning the weapons looted following the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023. Around 11,526 ammunition items, 366 hand grenades, 230 bombs and 10 IEDs were also surrendered by the rebels or protesters across state, during this period.