Imphal: A column of Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army Tuesday intercepted and detained 11 armed miscreants dressed in police fatigues in Manipur on Tuesday.
From their possession, three AK rifles along with seven magazines and 210 ammunition; five INSAS rifles along with 13 magazines and 260 rounds of ammunition; two SLR rifles along with nine magazines and 180 ammunition and two hand grenades and bulletproof jackets and other items were recovered and taken into custody.
However, a group of womenfolk started gathering and blocking the road to prevent the movement of security forces. During the aggressive confrontation and despite their best efforts, the womenfolk snatched the eleven miscreants from the custody of the Army column, an officer of Manipur police said.
Later, with the support of Manipur police, the Army column successfully broke through several obstacles/barriers created by hostile sympathizers and reached Kumbi police station.
The recovered weapons and ammunition were kept in safe custody. The mob was later dispersed and the situation was brought under control. Necessary legal action is being taken up, the officer added.
Meanwhile, the Manipur police department clarified that the incident that happened at Kumbi Tuesday had nothing to do with the incident on 27 April at Naranseina where two personnel of CRPF were killed by unidentified armed miscreants.
“There are reports of rumours on social media by certain handles linking the above miscreants with the incident of 27th April 2024 at Naranseina wherein two CRPF personnel were martyred. Both the incidents are separate and investigation is going on and no linkages with the Naranseina incident have been found till now,” a statement by the department said.
Search operations launched
Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. During the search operations – one CMG (Carbine) with Mag; four single barrel guns; one grenade launcher (lathod gun), one pistol with mag; two improvised heavy mortars; two magazines; ten tear gas shells were recovered from Zalenkot, Churachandpur on Tuesday.
In another operation, a combined team of Manipur police and security forces recovered two 9mm pistols, five 9mm pistol magazines and 500 pieces of ammunition from Mantripukhri Bazar, Imphal East on Monday.
