Imphal, Jun 22: Security forces, including the newly deployed COBRA unit of CRPF, recovered at least 36 different firearms during a three-day-long operation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, police said on Monday.
The operations were launched on Saturday, based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of armed militants, by Manipur Police, CRPF, RAF, CoBRA, and the Army in the general areas of Leilon Vaiphei, Leilon Munlui, Molhoi, P Moulding, Leilon Khunou, and surrounding areas.
The hill villages have witnessed heightened tensions during the last few weeks following the abduction of six Naga civilians from Leilon Vaiphei, a Kuki Zo village, in May. Their bodies were later recovered from the vicinity of the village on June 10.
During the operation, an exchange of fire took place with suspected militants, and the operation continued throughout Sunday and Monday, they said.
Seventeen single/double-barreled guns, two AK-47 rifles, one M4 carbine, two SLRs, one SKS rifle, and one improvised sniper .303 rifle and SBL rifles were recovered along with assorted ammunition, communication equipment, and other war-like stores during the operation, police said.
