Imphal, 13 February (HS): In two separate operations carried out in last 24 hours, security forces recovered a substantial quantity of arms, ammunition and equipment from Kangpokpi district and Imphal East district, officials said.

According to the official sources, the first recovery was made in the Awlmun village area under Kangchup Police Station in Kangpokpi district, where personnel located a hidden cache containing an MA-11MK rifle with a magazine, a pistol with its magazine, six single-barrel guns, two improvised mortars, 50 INSAS live rounds, a single-barrel live round, two PEKs, two 36-hand grenades with arming rings, two detonators, a handset, a BP jacket cover and two pairs of jungle shoes.

In a parallel operation the same day, another team retrieved a second stockpile from the Champhai hill range under Sagolmang Police Station in Imphal East district. The items seized included two .303 rifles, one .22 rifle, eight 12-bore single-barrel guns, 25 INSAS live rounds, 10 rounds of .303 ammunition, one 12-bore live round, two blank cartridges, four INSAS magazines, a locally made bomb, a WP-80 smoke grenade, two smoke stun grenades, two tear smoke shells, a tear smoke grenade, four Baofeng handsets and two handset chargers.

Officials added that the recoveries are expected to aid ongoing efforts to curb the movement of illegal arms in the region and enhance security operations across Manipur.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash