The Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has called for a comprehensive investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Mizoram Police following the seizure of a massive arms cache on January 15, 2025, near Saithah village in Mizoram’s Mamit District.

Mizoram Police, assisted by an intelligence agency, recovered six AK-47 rifles, 10,050 AK cartridges, and 13 magazines in what they described as “one of the largest arms busts in the state.” Five individuals, including a senior leader of the Myanmar-based Chin National Front (CNF), were arrested.

“This operation is a stern warning to illegal operators and a significant step in counter-insurgency efforts,” Mizoram Police said, highlighting the transnational nature of the arms trade. Initial investigations suggest the weapons were part of an illicit trade between the CNF and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF-P), an insurgent group in Bangladesh.

DMCC raised concerns over the use of such arms by Kuki-Chin militants during the ongoing 20-month conflict in Manipur. The committee emphasized the need to trace the source and intended recipients of the weapons while referencing previous incidents like the NIA’s 2022 crackdown on explosives trafficking in Mizoram.

The DMCC also urged recognition for Mizoram Police and other agencies involved in countering arms trafficking, stressing the critical need for peace and stability in the region.