The State police today recovered the weapons which were dumped by unidentified people from the Wahumkhrah.
The search was conducted by an 11-member Search and Rescue Team of the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Service after an anonymous letter was sent anonymously to the rangbah shnongs of the Mawlai Town Dorbar informing about the whereabouts of the weapons seized by some men from policemen on August 15.
The search operation lasted for around an hour and the three weapons were recovered from almost the same location described in the letter, which was under the bridge, at Jaiaw Umpohliew.
As soon as the team members fished out the weapons from the stream they were greeted with loud cheers from onlookers.
A sizeable crowd had gathered on the bridge and the adjoining road to witness the search operation.
The search and rescue team initially went searching for the weapons downstream as suggested by the police. But after going for around 100-150 meters they returned upstream only to find the weapons dumped a few meters under the Umpohliew bridge.
According to authorities involved in the search operation, they have used only the ropes for anchoring and it was mainly a physical search.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Police Assistant Inspector General of Police, Gabriel K. Iangrai said that the three INSAS rifles which were “stolen” from Mawkynroh-Umshing outpost on August 15 have been recovered today from Wahumkhrah.
Iangrai said, “Meghalaya Police wholeheartedly expresses its sincere gratitude to the Rangbah Shnong of Mawlai Town Dorbar and Dorbar Shnong Jaiaw Pyllun for their continuous support.”
It may be mentioned that on August 15 unidentified men reportedly snatched the weapons from cops of the Mawkynroh Umshing out post including a black scorpio which was later set ablaze at Jaiaw.
Three policemen, who fled into a nearby forest, were suspended for losing their rifles.
