Manipur Police Recovers Arms And Ammo Looted From IRB, 6 Arrested

Six people have been arrested by the Manipur Police for the looting of arms from the 5th Indian Reserve Battalion.

Security forces with weapon recovered during search operations

Source : X/@manipur_police

Guwahati: The Manipur Police has said a total of six persons have been arrested in connection with an incident related to looting of arms from the 5^th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) located at the Chingarel area in the strife-torn state’s Imphal East district by an unruly mob on Tuesday night. The police also said that the arrested persons have been remanded to police custody by the Judicial Magistrate.   

In a late night post on X, the Manipur police stated, “In connection with the incident of arms looting case of 5th IRB, Chingarel, Imphal East by unruly mob on the night of 13.02.2024, Manipur Police have arrested 06 (six) persons on 14.02.2024 and they have been remanded into police custody by judicial magistrate.”

The Manipur police further said that they have recovered some arms and ammunition including four Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifles, a Ghaatak assault rifle, two magazines of Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and 16 boxes of 9 mm ammunition, that are suspected to have been looted from the 5^th IRB.   

In another post on X, the Manipur police wrote, “Further, 04 (four) Insas Rifles, 01 (one) AK Ghatak 2, magazines of SLR and 16 small boxes of 9 mm ammunition which are suspected to have been looted from 5th IRB have also been recovered by Manipur Police.”

The Manipur police also confirmed the incident at the Pangei area in Imphal East district on Tuesday which led to the death of a person and left three others injured. The police said that the security forces resorted to use of legal force to disperse mobs including armed miscreants while they were trying to storm the Manipur Police Training College (MPTC).

“On 13.02.2024, in order to repel violent mobs including armed miscreants trying to storm MPTC, Pangei, security forces resorted to use of legal force. During the incident, 01(one) person succumbed to injuries and 3(three) persons sustained injuries,” the Manipur police stated on X.

The police also said that search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of both the hill and valley districts of the state during which a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered.