‘Huge cache’ of illegal arms, explosives recovered in Manipur

In another development, 12 Assam Rifles personnel seized a substantial amount of narcotics from a vehicle plying between Moreh and Imphal.

Security forces have achieved a major breakthrough against subversive elements through the recovery of a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, the authorities said on Tuesday.

The operation was conducted jointly by the 6 Assam Rifles and 27 Assam Rifles on Monday.

“The seized articles included two GSG-5 German rifles with four magazines, an Uzkon semi-automatic shotgun with three magazines, two 9mm Beretta pistols with four magazines, a 9mm Sigsauer pistol with two magazines, cordtex, detonators and over 6,000 rounds of ammunition. They were being transported from Ukhrul to Imphal,” the Assam Rifles (South) said in a press release.

It termed the development as a major success of the Assam Rifles in its efforts to thwart the “nefarious designs” of underground groups. However, the release did not mention the arrest of any individual in this regard.

Bishnupur police commandos and 5 J&K Rifles personnel had pulled off a similar feat on April 8, when they recovered a huge cache of automatic weapons and related articles from Pat area of Ishok Makha Leikai in Bishenpur district. Two M-16 rifles, four AK-56 rifles, an A4 rifle and an under-barrel grenade launcher figured among the recoveries.

The following day, the same team recovered two more weapons – an M-16 rifle and an AK-56 rifle – along with four magazines from Ishok village.

Narcotics seized

Heroin and narcotic pills seized from a Maruti Eeco van at the Khudengthabi check post. The driver’s identity is being kept under wraps. (HT Photo)

In another development, 12 Assam Rifles personnel seized a substantial amount of heroin as well as ‘World is Yours’ narcotic pills from an alleged drug smuggler who was trying to cross a vehicle check post at Khudengthabi in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on Monday. The combined value of the drugs was estimated at Rs 1.7 crore.

“Based on specific inputs, we stopped a silver Maruti Eeco van plying from Moreh to Imphal at the Khudengthabi check post around 12 noon on May 21. A thorough check of the vehicle led to the recovery of 230 grams of heroin and 11,000 narcotic pills worth Rs 1.7 crore from its tool kit,” Assam Rifles (South) said in a press release.

An interrogation of the driver, a 55-year-old resident of Tengnoupal district, revealed that he was carrying the contraband to Churachandpur district. He was promised a sum of Rs 15,000 for making the delivery. The accused was later handed over to the Moreh police.

The Assam Rifles has seized banned narcotics amounting to Rs 43 crore along the National Highway 102 since January, the release added.

Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/huge-cache-of-illegal-arms-explosives-recovered-in-manipur/story-5y8TavPhWkjykrabeFp1aL.html