Security Forces Dismantle Two Militant Camps in Manipur’s Kangpokpi, Seize Large Cache of Arms

Imphal: Central security forces and Manipur Police on Tuesday dismantled two militant camps and recovered a substantial arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives during cordon-and-search operations in the sensitive Kangpokpi district.

The joint operations targeted the northern and western parts of the district, a predominantly Kuki-Zo tribal area long considered vulnerable to insurgent activity.

In the first raid, conducted deep inside Gelbung jungle under Saikul Police Station, the forces recovered one CMG carbine with its magazine, one .303 rifle, two pistols each with a magazine, nine country-made single-barrel bolt-action guns, one country-made single-barrel breech-loading gun, 46 live rounds of various calibres, 80 empty cases, one locally fabricated hand grenade along with a detonator and safety fuse, three pieces of PEK (plastic explosive), four pump-action improvised guns, one pumpi stand, two Baofeng handheld radio sets, one pair of jungle boots and one magazine pouch.

In the second operation at Songlung village under Kangchup Police Station, the team seized one Heckler & Koch G3 rifle with magazine, two bolt-action rifles, four locally made pull-mechanism rifles, one improvised mortar tube, two No. 36 hand grenades complete with arming rings and detonators, two live G3 rounds and one handheld radio set.

Both camps had been abandoned by the militants before the forces arrived, but officials said the locations were strategically chosen for covert operations. No arrests were made during the raids.

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