Security forces arrested a suspected cadre of the Kuki National Front (MC) and seized foreign-made weapons, ammunition and approximately 1.027 kg of brown sugar during an intelligence-based operation at Kingkin village near M. Songgel in Churachandpur district on the night of October 26.
According to a police statement, a joint team of Churachandpur District Police, 129 Battalion of the CRPF and 5 Assam Rifles intercepted a suspicious white Bolero vehicle during the operation and conducted a search.
The arrested person was identified as Letkhothang Khongsai, 23, a resident of D. Lhangjol village. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly disclosed that he was a cadre of the KNF (MC), a group under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement.
The search led to the recovery of one foreign-made AK-series rifle, one foreign-made MA1 rifle, 240 rounds of assorted ammunition and two transparent plastic packets containing approximately 1.027 kg of brown sugar. The vehicle, arms, ammunition and suspected contraband were seized.
In a separate operation, security personnel recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the foothills of Bongbal Khollen in Imphal East district. The operation was conducted by the CRPF Quick Action Team in coordination with Manipur Police commandos.
The items recovered included one A1 rifle with a magazine, one .303 light machine gun (LMG), one 9 mm pistol with a magazine, two 12-bore double-barrel guns, three 12-bore single-barrel guns and one locally made 9 mm pistol with a magazine.
Security personnel also seized three 36 mm hand grenades without detonators, one Chinese hand grenade, one MG-2 rifle grenade, one Pompi shell, four wireless radio sets and a charger, along with assorted ammunition.