Firearms, grenades and ammunition seized in Manipur amid ongoing ethnic conflict

Firearms, grenades and ammunition seized in Manipur amid ongoing ethnic conflict left A joint team of CRPF and police conducted the operation in Bongbal Khollen foothills and seized the firearms. Photo: X/@manipur_police “One A1 rifle, a 9 mm pistol, two 12-bore double-barrel guns, three 12-bore single-barrel guns and a locally made 9 mm pistol were among the firearms recovered,” the police said Imphal Security forces seized 11 firearms during an operation in Manipur's Imphal East district, police said on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police conducted the operation in Bongbal Khollen foothills and seized the firearms. "One A1 rifle, a 9 mm pistol, two 12-bore double-barrel guns, three 12-bore single-barrel guns and a locally made 9 mm pistol were among the firearms recovered," police said in a statement. Three hand grenades and ammunition were also seized during the operation.

All seized items have been handed over to the Thoubal Dam Police Station, it said. Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out in the state three years ago. Kuki-Zo insurgent camp taken over by CRPF in Manipur among two to be relocated under MHA deal Kuki-Zo insurgent camp taken over by CRPF in Manipur among two to be relocated under MHA deal Police say 17 people found in Sinai camp were “impersonating” registered cadres; Kuki-Zo insurgent group says they were long-term residents, calls for Central intervention; SoO camps no longer “untouchable”, says senior official Security forces conduct search operations in Manipur's Kangpokpi; arms seized, bunkers destroyed Security forces conduct search operations in Manipur's Kangpokpi; arms seized, bunkers destroyed “Thirty bunkers, outposts and strategic camp sites found in the vicinity of these villages were also dismantled during the operations,” a police statement said The ethnic conflict that erupted in May 2023 between the valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities has claimed at least 306 lives, while 49 people remain missing and thousands have been left homeless.

At least 50 people have been killed in clashes between Kukis and Nagas in the hill districts since February this year. New fault lines: On Manipur’s Kuki-Zo–Naga conflict editorial 1 Kuki-Zo insurgent camp taken over by CRPF in Manipur among two to be relocated under MHA deal Kuki-Zo insurgent camp taken over by CRPF in Manipur among two to be relocated under MHA deal Police say 17 people found in Sinai camp were “impersonating” registered cadres; Kuki-Zo insurgent group says they were long-term residents, calls for Central intervention; SoO camps no longer “untouchable”, says senior official Kuki-Zo insurgent camp taken over by CRPF in Manipur among two to be relocated under MHA deal storyline 1 Security forces conduct search operations in Manipur's Kangpokpi; arms seized, bunkers destroyed Security forces conduct search operations in Manipur's Kangpokpi; arms seized, bunkers destroyed “Thirty bunkers, outposts and strategic camp sites found in the vicinity of these villages were also dismantled during the operations,” a police statement said Security forces conduct search operations in Manipur's Kangpokpi; arms seized, bunkers destroyed storyline 1