A combined team of Manipur police along with 16 JAT Regiment on Monday apprehended a gang of arms smugglers including one Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel from Imphal East district while locals of the area burned two houses of the main accused.
The apprehended gang members are identified as one Md Nursafi, 33, son of Md Nazam of Heikrumakhong Kewa Makhong; Md Sanayai, 46, son of late Md Achou of Khomidok Sorok Mapal; Md Hasan, 40, son of Md Abdul Rahim of Kairang Awang Leikai and Md Rasid Ali, 50, son of late Md Achou of Khomidok Sorok Mapal - all the accused persons are from Imphal East district.
Imphal East Superintendent of Police Ksh Shivakanta told media at his Porompat office in Imphal East district that acting on an input about the presence of a gang of arms smugglers, a combined team of Imphal East district police led by additional Superintendent of police (Ops), N Herojit, assisted by officer-in-charge, commando district unit, Kh Henery; officer-in-charge, Heingang Police Station, Kh Pathou Meeitei and a team of 16 JAT regiment led by major L Surchandra under the over supervision of SP, Imphal East conducted search operation in general area of Kairang Awang Leilai, Khomidok and Heikrumakhong.
During the operation, the four accused were apprehended and on preliminary interrogation, they revealed that they were involved in illegal selling of arms and ammunition which were snatched from police, the SP informed.
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One 9mm carbine 1A1 bearing registration number 15227690 SAF 1992 with one empty magazine marked as ‘S’; one 0.22 pistol mark as Star, Butt Number CO 390612 with one empty magazine; one air pistol marked as Bond; a sum of Rs 2.6 lakh in cash; a Khaki-colour Tata Ace HT bearing registration number MN07C/4431 and one iPhone mobile handset were seized from the possession of Hassan.
Moreover, two 5.56 mm INSAS magazines marked as LOT-453/2012 D.S. VAT number 1005007783; one 0.303 LMG magazine marked as SAS 2007 magazine 7.62 mm. 3A 1005000342; twenty-one 7.62 mm live ammunition; a white colour four-wheeler vehicle Mahindra Bolero Pick Up FB bearing registration number MN04P/1374 and one mobile phone were seized from the possession of Rasid and another two mobile phones were also seized each from the possession of Nursafi and Sanayai, the SP informed.
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On further search, four bayonets with cover were also recovered from the general area of Heikrumakhong, said Shivakanta.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Hassan and Rasid had sold weapons earlier and received a sum of Rs 6 Lakh in cash while Nursafi and Sanayai were also involved during the illegal arms smuggling.
The SP appealed to the public to hand over arms and ammunitions that were snatched from police at the earliest and warned not to be involved in selling of such arms and ammunitions or that legal action would be taken against them.
Later, locals of the area burnt the residences of Hasan and Rashid and resolved to boycott them permanently from the locality.
Locals alleged that they sold the snatched arms to some Kuki militants in connection with the ongoing crisis.
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