Weapons recovered from Manipur's Thoubal

PTI, IMPHAL, DECEMBER 5, 2024 : Security forces have recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur's Thoubal district, police said on Thursday. The recovery was made during searches in Fungei Ching Ngamukhong area on Wednesday, and no one was arrested in this connection, a police statement said. 

The recovered items include 16 firearms, six 36HE grenades, two detonators, ammunition, and a walkie-talkie set along with a charger, it said. 

Altogether, 107 checkpoints have been installed in various districts of the state, both in the hills and the Imphal Valley, and no one was detained in connection with any violation of laws on Wednesday, the police statement said. 

More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.

Protests in Imphal Valley over NIA case against Arambai Tenggol leader, missing Meitei man

Earlier, sit-in demonstrations were held in various parts of Imphal Valley on Wednesday, demanding greater efforts to find the missing Meitei man and withdrawal of the NIA cases against Arambai Tenggol leader Korounganba Khuman. 

At Kanto Sabal, some 3 km from the Leimakhong Military Station from where Laishram Kamalbabu Singhallegedly went missing on November 25, locals continued their demonstration. 

Singh, a native of Assam's Cachar district who lived in Khukrul in Imphal West, was a works supervisor for a contractor working with the Military Engineering Services (MES) in Leimakhong Military Station of the 57th Mountain Division, according to the Army. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had said that he went missing from the military station. 

Police on Monday said the Army has deployed over 2,000 personnel to search for Singh, besides drones and tracker dogs. At Laphupat Tera and Wangoi in Imphal West, and Wabagai and Kakching Khunou in Kakching district, demonstrators raised slogans protesting the NIA cases against Khuman. 

Meitei radical organization Arambai Tenggol's supremo Khuman and Kuki militants are under the radar of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has been tasked with probing four cases of attacks on security forces and an IED explosion. 

The cases include looting of arms and ammunition from the 1st Manipur Rifles complex in Imphal, an attack on the Indian Reserve Battalion post in Moreh, and an IED explosion in Bishnupur.

Meanwhile, the first death anniversary of 13 Meitei persons killed at Leithao and Moltham Khun in Tengnoupal was observed at Andro Khunou Torongthel Kamu Koireng Integrity Park in Imphal East district.