Manipur: 3 yrs after peace deal, insurgent group found selling weapons
Joint security forces comprising Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and the CRPF recovered these weapons.
The seized arms and ammunition on display at the office of SP Imphal West, on Thursday. (PTI) Security forces in Manipur recovered 67 weapons, including ones looted from state armouries, from the United National Liberation Front (Pambei), a valley-based insurgent group that the Centre had signed a peace agreement with in 2023. According to police, cadres of the group were engaged in selling these weapons.
Over the course of two days, which included a cordon and search operation at an unauthorised UNLF(P) camp at Lamdeng in Imphal West, joint security forces comprising Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and the CRPF recovered these weapons, said a statement from the Manipur Police. A breakup of these weapons included 27 AK-series weapons, 11 M-series rifles, four 9-mm pistols, and one RPG-7.
According to a senior police officer, this weapons haul includes weapons that had been looted from state armouries during the course of the ongoing conflict in the state. Around 6,000 weapons had been looted from state armouries during the conflict that began in May 2023.
According to police, they launched a special operation in Lamshang on Wednesday based on “credible information regarding the selling of looted arms and ammunition”, during which they apprehended two active cadres of the UNLF(P) with one INSAS LMG and three magazines, as well as fourteen live rounds. “While the arrest was going on, associates of the cadres opened fire at the security forces, resulting in a brief exchange of fire,” said a police statement, adding that two more cadres who had fired at the security forces were apprehended as well.
“On preliminary interrogation of the arrested cadres, they disclosed that they had come to sell the seized weapons on the instruction of self-styled Lance Corporal Naorem Bijoy, alias Macha, of UNLF(P). They further admitted to earlier sale of looted arms and ammunition,” said police.
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