Amid a massive push to conduct operations in Manipur to recover arms and ammunition, Imphal East has emerged as a hub for looted weapons. More than 30 per cent of the total weapons recovered are from this district alone.
According to data accessed by source, at least 950 weapons have been recovered so far from Imphal East. Security forces have made significant weapon recoveries in Churachandpur (650) and Kangpokpi (350) districts as well.
Kangpokpi is the same district from where the horrific video of two women being paraded naked on a road by a group of men, emerged and was shared on social media in 2023. The two victims were allegedly gangraped in a field. Later, few the accused were arrested in connection with the incident and CBI filed a chargesheet as well.
Out of a total of 3,132 recoveries, at least 2,100 are looted weapons with over 1,000 supplied to or bought by miscreants to disturb the law and order in the strife-torn state.
According to a top official, this data was collected in January to analyse weapons recovery. Sources indicated that this year, security forces will adopt a more aggressive approach.
The data showed that security forces in Manipur, along with local police, recovered the highest number of weapons in July 2024, following the release of the video of the women. That month, they recovered 174 weapons, which was the highest last year.
Similarly, 171 weapons were recovered in September, and 156 in December from different districts. In the last four months, there has been an increase in weapon recoveries.
From September to December, close to 600 weapons were recovered, and local authorities have claimed that these figures will rise in the next couple of months.
The data further shows that security forces recovered almost 300 per cent more weapons looted by local residents and miscreants from the valley than from the hills, following the violence that erupted on May 3, 2023.
It also shows around 600 weapons have been recovered from the hills, while an estimated 1,700 have been recovered from the valley. A senior official said weapons and ammunition were primarily looted from the valley, which accounts for the higher recovery rate.
