1,040 looted sophisticated arms recovered by security forces in Manipur

Imphal, June 13 Altogether 1,040 sophisticated arms and 13,601 pieces of ammunition of different kinds have been recovered out of thousands of weapons looted by by mobs, and extremists from the security forces after the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the officials, along with the arms and ammunition, 230 live bombs of different types have so far been recovered after the Army, various Central Armed Police Force, Manipur Rifles, and police launched state wide combing operation a day after the end of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's four day (May 29-June 1) visit to Manipur.

Various reports claimed that thousands of different types of sophisticated arms and large quantities of ammunition were looted by mobs from police stations and security camps after the riots broke out.

To flush out the militants and their hideouts, the Army and other central forces continued their counter-insurgency operation and to avoid mistrust, 'executive magistrates' will accompany the forces during the operations.

Manipur government's Advisor (Security) Kuldiep Singh said that curfew was relaxed for 15 hours in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts, 12 hours in Kakching and Pherzawl districts and 8 to 10 hours in other districts.

There is no curfew in six hill districts.

He said that movement of a large number of vehicles carrying essential items, food grains, life saving drugs, transport fuel along Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) was ensured.

Senior officers have visited and are camping in vulnerable areas. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable areas while a combined team of state and Central forces have intensified combing operations in many parts of the state, he said.

Governor Anusuiya Uikey visited relief camps at Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts and interacted with the residents. She also held meetings with civil society organisations (CSOs) in both the districts.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh chaired a meeting of the Superintendents of Police and other police officials and reviewed the overall situation of all the 16 districts through video-conferencing.