Imphal, 26 July

Security forces on Saturday seized at least 90 firearms and over 700 ammunition and explosives in multiple operations across five districts of Manipur, police said.

A senior police officer said that several of the seized firearms were reportedly looted from police armouries after ethnic conflict erupted in the state in May 2023.

Acting on a tip-off, coordinated operations were launched simultaneously at multiple sites in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts, a police statement said.

During the operations by the joint teams, comprising the Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF, Army and Assam Rifles, 90 weapons, including three from the AK series, one M16 rifle, five INSAS rifles, one INSAS LMG, four SLRs, 20 pistols, four carbines, seven .303 rifles and eight other rifles, were seized.

"A total of 728 ammunition and explosives, including 21 grenades and six IEDs, besides 21 magazines and 24 wireless handsets, were also seized," it said.

During a press briefing at the state police headquarters, Inspector General of Police, Zone II, Kabib K, said, "Some of the seized firearms were reportedly looted from our police armouries."

Miscreants had looted over 6,000 firearms from various police armouries after ethnic violence broke out in the state on 3 May, 2023. More than 3,000 of the looted firearms have been recovered, including over 1,500 after President'srule was imposed in the state in February this year.

Reaffirming its commitment to fostering a peaceful and secure Manipur, the police also urged the public to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies and security forces and promptly report any suspicious activity or provide information related to illegal firearms to the nearest police station or the Central Control Room.