In a major crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, security forces in Manipur arrested two individuals in Kangpokpi district for possession of suspected opium. In a separate operation, a large cache of arms and ammunition was seized from the fringe areas of Bishnupur district. Acting on intelligence inputs, security personnel conducted a raid in the hill range of Lanka village, Kangpokpi district, on February 7. During the operation, they seized 20 Khaini cases containing a total of 642.09 grams of suspected opium (Kani). The two arrested individuals have been identified as Maniraj (35) and Yam Bahadur (49), both residents of Bajagra village, 25 Miles IT Road, Kangpokpi district.
Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the suspects, and further investigations are underway to ascertain the source and intended destination of the seized contraband. Meanwhile, as part of continuous efforts to curb insurgency-related activities and maintain law and order, security forces carried out extensive search operations in the vulnerable border areas of Bishnupur district. The operation, conducted in the fringe area between Aigejang foothills under Nambol Police Station, led to the recovery of a massive stockpile of weapons and explosives.
Among the recovered items were one .303 rifle, one bolt-action rifle, two SBBL guns, one .22 pistol with a magazine, one 9mm pistol with a magazine, five 36 HE hand grenades, one Chinese HE hand grenade, four 40mm HE Lethod grenades, a long-range modified mortar shell, and two 2-inch mortar HE shells with carriers. Additionally, security forces seized ten empty SLR cartridge cases, multiple tear gas grenades, stun grenades, anti-riot rubber bullets, and smoke shells of varying ranges. Officials suspect that the arms cache belonged to insurgent groups operating in the region. The seized weapons and explosives have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
