IMPHAL: Armed members of the Kangleipak Communist Party attacked a police outpost in Thoubal district, Manipur, on Saturday night, carting away a sizable cache of weapons and ammunition. A group of around 30 militants, armed with modern firearms, overpowered the police personnel posted at the Kakmayai outpost seizing six Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), three AK rifles, and a huge lot of ammunition.
Local police launched an immediate search operation in response to the incident, detaining a KCP cadre, identified as 49-year-old Hijam Ningthem Singh. Police recovered three AK rifles and five SLRs by Sunday afternoon in the Ngamukhong foothill area, out of the nine weapons stolen during the attack.
Subsequent combing operations in the areas of Ningel, Malom, Toubul, and Langathel led to the recovery of a KCP hideout in Langathel Chingkhong. Ammunition amounting to 48 live rounds of Insas and AK ammunition, grenades, and other military equipment like bullet-proof vests and helmets were recovered by the authorities.
According to reports, the stealing of arms has been a chronic problem in Manipur, especially after the ethnic riots that broke out on May 3, 2023, when more than 6,000 weapons were taken from police facilities. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has appealed to the looters to return the stolen arms and threatened legal action if they fail to do so
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