Imphal, 21 February (HS): In a significant crackdown, security forces on Friday evening recovered a cache of arms and explosives from the Chingkhei Ching foothill area under Porompat Police Station in Imphal East district.

The recovery was made during a search operation conducted in the sensitive foothill region. Among the seized weapons were one .303 rifle with magazine, a .22 rifle and a 9 mm SMG carbine along with its magazine.

Security personnel also recovered two No. 36 hand grenades, one improvised bomb and one WP No. 80 MK-1 grenade from the site. In addition, 57 live rounds of ammunition of different calibres were seized.

Other items found during the operation included three lethod shells, two SLR empty cases, four INSAS magazines, one SLR magazine, one pistol magazine, two tube launchers and two .303 charger clips.

The recovered arms and ammunition have been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway to ascertain their source and intended use.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash