Manipur: Repeated armoury looting raises security concerns over armed miscreants, insurgent groups operating in Northeast India

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

repeated looting of armoury in Manipur has raised concerns in the security establishment for there is fear that this may lend in the hands of armed miscreants or insurgent groups operating in Northeast India.Manipur police on Thursday stated an unruly mob stormed 2d IRB, Naranseina, Keirenphabi Police Outpost and Thangalawai Police Outpost in Bishnupur District and took away a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Unruly mob also attempted to snatch arms and ammunition from 7h Bn. Manipur Rifles, 2d Bn.

Manipur Rifles, Heingang Police Station and Singjamei Police Station but security forces repelled them. The initial estimation by authorities suggested that more than 4,000 weapons have been snatched during the violence which broke out on May 3. Sources in intelligence agencies told ET, “State police across Northeast India have been alerted to possible arms proliferation.

There are armed miscreants and insurgents operating in the region and may take this opportunity to procure easily available arms.” Sources in security forces operating in Manipur however said, “Though the drive to recover the arms and ammunition is on we have inputs that these looted arms are well within Manipur and are with the mob who looted them. Those arms have not moved to other areas.” He added, “These weapons include Insas rifles, carbines, LMGs, pistols, AK-47s, .303 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition. Security forces in June had recovered as many as 1,095 arms, 13,702 ammunition and 250 bombs of different kinds have been recovered of the total more than 4,000 arms which were looted by mobs”.