US-made M16 rifle, loads of other arms and ammunition along with explosives were received by security forces during intensified search and area domination operations across Manipur on Wednesday. The officials confirmed on Thursday that they had recovered arms from the jungle area between Maohing and Changoubung villages in Kangpokpi district.
The forces recovered one M16 rifle with a magazine and 10 rounds, a looted .303 rifle with two magazines, a CMG with its magazine and two rounds, a 7.62 mm LMG barrel, three pistols including a US-made pistol with three magazines, a Lahor with two rounds, a .22 rifle with its magazine and 40 rounds, six bolt-action rifles, two single-barrel rifles, and 12 rounds of 12 mm ammunition. Other than this, three improvised projectile launchers along with two hand grenades, four radio sets, and three bulletproof jackets were also recovered by the police during the day.
In another completely different operation at Kotzim village in Kangpokpi district, security personnel recovered a 9 mm carbine with three magazines, a single-barrel rifle, three mechanism rifles, three improvised mortars, and two hand grenades. Separately, in Khongnangpokpi area in Imphal West, one pumpy gun, a country-made rifle, a hand grenade, a radio set, and a charger were recovered.
According to the concerned security officials, the recovery of these ammunitions highlights the continuous presence of sophisticated weaponry in Manipur’s most vulnerable sections. They also told national media that the ongoing operations in these areas are aimed at neutralising armed groups and restoring stability in the conflict-affected state of Manipur.
Ethnic Violence in Manipur
On 3 May 2023, ethnic violence erupted in the north-eastern state of Manipur between the Meitei, the majority community living in the Imphal Valley, and Kuki-Zo communities, the tribal communities belonging to the surrounding hills. Government figures suggest that 258 people have been killed in the violence and more than 60,000 people have been displaced. Many are still missing, while many others also suffered sexual violence.
In the violence, many houses were burned and around 400 religious structures were vandalised, including temples and churches.
The boil in Manipur was triggered by a Manipur High Court recommendation for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community. This would have affected Kuki-Zo access to land, jobs, and resources, along with other contributing factors like illegal migration from Myanmar, a government war on drugs that majorly affected the tribal communities, land pressure, unemployment, historical disturbances, and the deep mistrust between groups and the government.