Imphal, 02 September (HS): In a major crackdown, Manipur Police arrested four persons in possession of a large cache of sophisticated arms, ammunition and explosives during an operation in the Imphal valley.

According to police, the accused were members of an obscure group named the Keishal Village Volunteer Organisation. Those taken into custody have been identified as Rajkumar Sidharth alias Momo (33), Laishram Rameshor Meitei (44), Athokpam Brojendro Singh (45) and Laishram Sachikanta Singh (25).

The raid led to the recovery of 17 firearms, including two AK rifles, two AK Ghatak rifles, three INSAS rifles, three SLRs, three .303 rifles, a defective 9mm pistol and a modified .303 rifle fitted with a scope.

Along with these, security personnel seized more than 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition, three grenades (one of them Chinese-made), 55 magazines, eight wireless handsets with spare batteries, eight suspected bulletproof plates and five camouflage helmets.

Officials said the seizure of such a large stockpile of weapons and military gear indicates possible plans for organized violence and investigations are underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash