At least seven bunkers were destroyed and arms, weapons recovered on Wednesday following search operations conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts.
A combined team of commando units, Kakching and one team of KCG-PS, under the command of Sub-inspector S Birla Singh OC/CDO, under the overall supervision of Thokchom Vikramjit Singh, MPS, Superintendent of Police Kakching District conducted a search operation at Kakching Moramba Chingjol area on Wednesday.
The team conducted the operation from 4 am till 6.20 am based on reliable information about arms being concealed in the said area. One Japan-made 6 round revolver and two 36 hand grenades were recovered from the Kakching Moramba Chingjol area near an apple farm which was suspected to be concealed by unknown miscreants.
The recovered items were formally seized at around 6.20 am from the spot and handed over to Kakching Police Station for further necessary action.
Joint search operations were also conducted by a combined team of Imphal East District Police, 20 JAT, CRPF 216 Bn, BSF E Coy 119 Bn at Sabungkhok Khunou, Shanti Khongbal and Phaimol hill ranges near Thamnapokpi village from 9.30 am to 1 pm.
Five bunkers were destroyed at Phaimol hill near Thamnapokpi village and 2 bunkers at Shanti Khongbal by the combined forces during the search operation. No weapons or ammunition were recovered. Readjustment and re-allocation of CAPF coys were also discussed by Themthing Ngashangva, IGP (Zone-) and Brig Sandeep Kapoor, Commander, Indian Army, Imphal East.
Imphal West District police conducted search operations at the Kasturi Crossing area of Thangal Bazar covering Dharamsala, Ngari Gali, Bora Gali and Yaima store areas from 2:20 pm till 3:00 pm. During the search around 112 persons were verified in which 3 persons were handed over to City PS for further verification.
A combined team of Imphal West district police,136-Dcoy CRPF and 7th MR under the supervision of SP Imphal West conducted search operations at Koutruk Makha, Mayai Leikai village areas under Lamsang Police station in which 65 houses were searched and 95 persons were verified. No arrest or recovery was made during the search conducted from 8.30 am till 10 am.
According to Manipur Police Control Room, 02 (two) arms (Carbine with magazine-01 and 9 mm pistol with magazine-01) and 01 (one) MI6 empty magazine were recovered near Lower Canal between Irengbam and Keinou, Bishnupur District.
Moreover, two arms (Carbine with magazine-2) were recovered from Heichanglok village in Churachandpur district.
The security forces also recovered five arms (two 7.62 mm SLR Rifles with two magazines, an M1 Assault Rifle with Magazine, a country-made pistol with magazine, one SBML gun), seven country-made pumpi guns, 38 ammunitions (eight 7.62 mm sniper ammunitions, 10 7.62 M16 ammunition, five AK-47 ammunitions, five 5.56 mm INSAS ammunitions, 10 9 mm ammunitions USA-made), 16 explosives (15 improvised bombsa and a local-made bamboo bomb) along with 4.175 kg of gunpowder and 42 electric detonators from L Cananphai, Churachandpur District, the police said.
