Manipur Situation Unprecedented, Biggest Challenge Is Large Number Of Arms With Communities: Assam Rifles

Director General of Assam Rifles Lt. General PC Nair said the situation in the northeastern state is unprecedented and nothing of this sort has been seen in the past.

Director General of Assam Rifles Lt. General PC Nair said the situation in the northeastern state is unprecedented and nothing of this sort has been seen in the past. ( Image Source :Twitter/ANI )

After security forces recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, and war-like stores during a search operation in Manipur’s Thoubal district, Director General of Assam Rifles Lt. General PC Nair said the situation in the northeastern state is unprecedented and nothing of this sort has been seen in the past. Speaking on the prevailing situation in the strife-torn state, he said that the biggest challenge is the large number of weapons that are with both the warring communities.

"The situation that we are facing in Manipur is unprecedented. We have never faced anything of this kind. Something similar happened in the early 90s when the Nagas and Kukis fought and then within the Kuki groups also there was a fight in the late 90s. Today, the biggest challenge is the large number of weapons that are out within both communities. Today, there's so much against each other, it's so corrupted. This needs to be stalled. There is a need for realisation to come for the people that the only way forward is peace," as quoted by the news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Shillong, Meghalaya | Lt. General PC Nair, Director General of Assam Rifles says "The situation that we are facing in Manipur is unprecedented. We have never faced anything of this kind. Something similar happened in the early 90s when the Nagas and Kukis fought and then… pic.twitter.com/zNBHUeYBVT

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2023

The search operation carried out by the joint team of the Assam Rifles and the Manipur police recovered a 9mm pistol, eight grenades, one radio set, several live rounds of ammunition and other war-like stores.

In another operation in the Nongpok Sekmai area of the district, the security forces recovered three launcher rifle grenades and live rounds of ammunition. Later, the seized arms and ammunition were handed over to the Thoubal police, the Assam Rifles said in a press release.

Meanwhile, another operation was launched by the joint team of columns from Assam Rifles, the Indian Army and the Manipur Police in the Sawombung area of Imphal East district to nab a militant who was reportedly present in the area.

During the search operation, an active cadre of the banned Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), Shiningson Chilhang (45), was nabbed at a checkpoint on National Highway 202 near Sawombung. 

The team of security forces also seized one 9mm carbine along with five live rounds of ammunition from his possession. Chilhang is a resident of Leikoiching village in Manipur’s Senapati district. The militant along with the seized weapon were later handed over to the Lamlai police in Imphal East district for further legal action, the press release further stated.

The four-month-long ethnic clashes in Manipur have claimed the lives of at least 167 people since violence erupted in the state on May 3 this year. On the other hand, the violence has also displaced thousands of people belonging to both communities forcing them to take shelter in relief camps.