Manipur Security Forces Seize Weapons in Kangpokpi; Naga Groups Seek Justice
Imphal, Manipur: Joint security forces have recovered a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and war-like stores during a series of coordinated search operations in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, police officials said on Thursday.
The recovered items included one 5.56 mm Excalibur rifle, eight single-barrel rifles, four improvised mortars, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), five lathods, 236 live rounds of ammunition of different calibres, two magazines, and a Baofeng communication handset.
According to officials, the recoveries were made as part of ongoing operations aimed at curbing the movement of armed groups and recovering illegal weapons in sensitive areas of the district. Security agencies have intensified search operations amid heightened tensions and concerns over law and order in the region.
Naga Organisations Raise Concerns Over Security Operation
Meanwhile, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) and the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) have expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of a recent joint operation conducted by CoBRA commandos of the CRPF and the Assam Rifles in the Leilon Vaiphei area of Kangpokpi district.
In separate statements, the organisations alleged that nearly 100 armed Kuki militants who were reportedly surrounded during the operation were not apprehended and were instead allowed to leave the area.
According to the groups, the operation was launched in connection with efforts to trace individuals allegedly involved in the abduction of 18 Naga civilians and the killing of six others.
The FNCC claimed that what began as an operation aimed at making arrests eventually resulted in a negotiated surrender process. The organisation further alleged that political interference influenced the course of the operation and led to the withdrawal of security personnel despite the reported encirclement of armed cadres.
The committee also alleged that members of KNF(P), UKNA, and KRA later moved to the KNF(P) Ebenezer Camp without facing arrest.
Demand for Accountability and Justice
Expressing concern over the outcome, the FNCC called for accountability and questioned the effectiveness of security operations against armed groups active in the region.
The Naga People’s Organisation echoed similar concerns, stating that no arrests had yet been made in connection with the killing of six Naga civilians. The organisation also noted that the bodies of the deceased remain at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) mortuary while investigations continue.
Additionally, the NPO criticised the alleged use of force against protesters at Namdilong-Kanglatongbi on June 24 and warned that such actions could lead to intensified democratic protests by Naga civil society organisations.
Both organisations urged the authorities to conduct a transparent investigation, ensure justice for the victims, and take decisive action against those responsible for the violence.
Security agencies have not yet issued an official response to the allegations raised by the organisations.
