14 IEDs, mortar bombs and arms cache recovered in Tengnoupal, India
Indian security forces have announced the recovery of a cache of arms, explosives and ammunition across two sites in Tengnoupal, Manipur state, within 24 hours.
A police bulletin from Manipur police issued on Monday morning stated that security forces had recovered the large quantity of military equipment from Molnom–Molnoi village and nearby areas in Tengnoupal district, not far from the border with Myanmar.
The seized items included one AK rifle, one pistol, two improvised mortars, one single-barrel rifle, two live improvised mortar bombs, ten rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and fourteen IEDs along with IED wire bundles, all of which were safely disposed of on the spot.
During the second and third phases of the operation, security forces recovered another large cache of arms and ammunition as well as destroyed approximately 27 acres of illegal poppy plantations in Kangpokpi district.
The announcement came less than a week after Indian security forces recovered 18 IEDs and other ammunition in a separate operation, also in Tengnoupal district.
Manipur has experienced prolonged ethnic violence since May 2023 after the Meitei community demanded "scheduled tribe" status. A protest march led by tribal groups who saw the demand as an existential threat spiralled into retaliatory violence, arson and killings.
The unrest has so far claimed at least 260 lives, including civilians from the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel. Thousands of people have also been displaced.
