Hill district crackdown yields massive haul of illegal arms: 203 weapons seized in joint operation

In one of the largest arms recoveries in recent times, joint teams of the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, Army, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have seized a massive cache of illegal weapons, ammunition, and explosives during a sweeping crackdown across the hill districts of Manipur. The coordinated operations, which began at midnight on July 3 and continued into the morning of July 4, were launched following specific intelligence inputs about concealed warlike materials stashed in remote interior locations.
Simultaneous search operations were carried out in Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Churachandpur districts. The joint security forces meticulously targeted multiple suspected sites, resulting in the recovery of an astonishing 203 weapons. Among the seized items were INSAS rifles, AK-series rifles, SLRs, sniper rifles, carbines, .303 rifles, mortars, MA assault rifles, M79 grenade launchers, and other advanced weaponry including rifles with scopes. A significant number of country-made firearms, such as single-shot breech-loaded guns, bolt-action rifles, and muzzle-loaders, were also found.
In addition to the weaponry, large quantities of ammunition and explosives were recovered. These included assorted live rounds, 30 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), hand grenades, pompi shells, and lathode grenades—marking a major disruption to efforts by anti-social elements to destabilize the state.
The Manipur Police termed the recovery a critical success in the ongoing mission to restore peace and normalcy. The operation highlights the intensified and sustained counter-insurgency efforts of the security forces in curbing illegal arms trafficking and securing public safety.
The police have appealed to the public to support these efforts by remaining alert and reporting any suspicious movements or information related to illegal weapons. Citizens are urged to contact the nearest police station or the Central Control Room in case of any leads.
Senior officials continue to coordinate closely with all security agencies to maintain the momentum of such strategic operations. The Office of the Director General of Police reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring peace, protecting lives and property, and dismantling networks that pose a threat to the state’s stability.