Myanmarese notes, weapons recovered in CCpur
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 27 2024: In a significant development, Manipur police and paramilitary forces have recovered Myanmarese currency along with a large cache of arms and ammunition during search and area domination operations in Churachandpur and other districts.

Source said that one of the recoveries in these operations include 6,200 kyat (Myanmar currency) .

The foreign currency was found alongside a cache of weapons, including a 9mm country-made pistol, single-barrel gun, bulletproof jacket, and camouflage clothing, recovered from Suangdai (Tuikui Muallum) village in Churachandpur district.

The presence of Myanmarese currency suggests a potential link to cross-border militant groups, heightening concerns about the smuggling of arms and illicit goods from Myanmar into Manipur.

In addition to the foreign currency and arms in Churachandpur, a joint team of Manipur Police and the CRPF recovered a locally-made improvised projectile launcher measuring approximately 2.5 metres in length, along with 11 unused bombs, each weighing around 1.5 kg in Kangpokpi district.

The team also found 10 shell casings during the operations in Haraothel and Lambung hill top areas.

Assam Rifles also recovered an improvised explosive device (1ED) from Salam Patong village under Nongpok Sekmai Police Station.

Earlier on September 20, during a press conference, security advisor Kuldiep Singh revealed that militants trained across the Myanmar border have infiltrated into Manipur and are likely operating in groups of around 30 and are scattered along the state's periphery, with plans to Carry out coordinated attacks on Meetei villages.

He said that as per intelligence reports these attacks could take place around September 28.However, on September 25, the security advisor as well as the Manipur DGP issued a joint statement retracting the alert.

The DGP explained that while the intelligence input about the infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants from Myanmar had been verified through various sources, it could not be substantiated on the ground.

The statement emphasised that there was no current evidence to support such claims, but security forces remain on high alert to safeguard citizens and protect lives and property.

On Thursday, a confidential communication from the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Tengnoupal surfaced on social media, warning that Kuki National Army (KNA) cadres were expected to smuggle arms, ammunition, and drugs from Myanmar through the Haolenphai and T Minou areas along the Indo-Myanmar border.

This information had been relayed to the Commanding Officer of 5 Assam Rifles, which is tasked with securing the sensitive border region.

On the same day, Kuki residents reportedly dug up sections of the road leading to New Sijang Veng, near Moreh College in Tengnoupal district, at various points.

This road provides access to Haolenphai and T Minou villages, further raising concerns about potential cross-border smuggling and disruptions to security operations in the area.

Comment