Army busts weapon making factory in Manipur, 2 militants arrested

Imphal, May 1: Army personnel busted an improvised weapon making factory, recovered war like stores and various fatigues, in a major operation at Phaijang village in the hill district of Senapati.

The April 27 operation led to the recovery of two 9mm pistols, two partially complete pistols, one Drill machine, one vice (Furnace marking machine), two magazine frames, an official release said today.

Three files, two Hacksaw blade, 23 alphabet punching tools, two weapon bodies, two Barrels, three Recoil spring, one weapon alignment machine, two 9mm magazine and scellaneous tools used for making such improvised weapons were seized during the raid.

The factory was used solely for forging weapons to militant outfits operating in Sadar Hills, the PIB release said. Meanwhile, an active cadre of Kuki National Front (P) was arrested on the same day by another team of the Indian army, the release said.

The militant, identified as Paominthang Singson (35) of Keithelmanbi of the same district, was responsible for firing related injury to a person that occurred at Shantipur in Imphal West district on April 22 last month.

One 9mm Pistol and three live rounds were recovered from the cadre who has been handed over to Imphal Police Station, it said. In another raid, an activist of the newly floated Thadou People’s Liberation Army (TPLA) was arrested on April 28.

He was identified as 44-year-old Chungminlun Khongsai, who has already confessed to being a member of the outfit and involved in extortion at Kangpokpi, Motbung and Saparmeina areas of Senapati district. The ultra has been handed over to Imphal PS for further investigations, said the statement.

PTI