In a joint special operation in Nagaland’s Kohima City on tuesday, Assam Rifles and Kohima Police foiled a smuggling plot and recovered a large cache of weaponry and ammunition en route to strife-torn Manipur, according to a release from the Defence PRO. The recovered items include two pistols and other ammunition. “Two pistols, four Magazines, ammunition, explosives and other war-like stores were recovered,” the PRO statement added.
The PRO statement said forces received information that miscreants were attempting to smuggle weapons to strife-torn Manipur via Nagaland.
Acting on the tip-off, a joint operation was launched by the Assam Rifles and the Kohima police at 2 AM on June 26.
“Assam Rifles spotted a passenger vehicle and kept it under surveillance. At 6 AM, the teams jointly searched the vehicle,” the statement further added.
“A total of 11,00 arms, 13,702 ammunitions and 250 bombs of different kinds have been recovered so far. Flag marches, area domination, cordon and search operations are continuing in various parts of the state,” a Manipur police statement said on Monday.
Manipur has been in the throes of ethnic violence for over 52 days. Over 100 people have been killed so far, as per officials.
An all-party meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah was held on Sunday to take steps to restore peace back in the BJP-ruled state. On May 3, violence erupted at a rally sponsored by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis on the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
In susceptible regions of the state, Manipur Police and central forces have conducted patrols, flag marches, and cordon and search operations.