In a significant operation on Tuesday, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Manipur Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), successfully recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the Churachandpur district of Manipur, a region that has been severely affected by ongoing violence. Acting on specific intelligence reports, the joint security team conducted a search in the Thanjing Ridge area, where they made critical discoveries, including two eight-foot rockets, two seven-foot rockets, two large mortars, locally referred to as ‘pompi,’ a medium-sized mortar, and a notable amount of additional ammunition.
This recovery comes on the heels of a series of arrests made by the Manipur Police, which took place earlier in the week. Eight members of the banned insurgent group, the United Liberation Front of Manipur (Pambei), were apprehended. Authorities reported that these insurgents had been actively involved in threatening civilians and obstructing crucial land demarcation efforts in the region. During the arrests, law enforcement officials were able to seize an array of weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, two AK-56 rifles, one M-16 rifle, one 9mm pistol, a substantial amount of live ammunition, along with various mobile phones and vehicles.
In addition to these arrests, security forces earlier discovered four rockets and a stash of explosives in the same district on October 31. Among the items seized were improvised mortar bombs, country-made grenades, and a radio set, all further indicating the level of armament present in this volatile area.
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These operations are occurring against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has escalated significantly since May 2023. The conflict primarily involves clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which erupted following a tribal solidarity march aimed at protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. This ongoing strife has led to widespread unrest, marked by frequent and violent confrontations between insurgent groups and security forces.
The recent seizure of weapons illustrates the increasing severity of the turmoil in Manipur as authorities strive to maintain order and prevent the situation from worsening. The operations conducted by the joint security forces reflect a concerted effort to dismantle the arms supply in the region, as they work to stabilize an area engulfed in conflict.
