Security forces recovered a substantial cache of sophisticated weapons, explosives and communication equipment from multiple locations across Manipur during coordinated operations conducted on January 24 and 25, 2026. The recoveries, spanning Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur and Jiribam districts, underscore intensified efforts to dismantle illegal arms networks and prevent further escalation of violence in the state.

Official sources said the seizures were made during targeted search operations in forested areas, foothills and vulnerable habitation zones under the jurisdiction of various police stations.
On January 25, a major recovery was made from the Terakhongshang forest area of Teijang village under Churachandpur Police Station. The seized items included an M-A II MK II rifle with magazine, an AK magazine, 66 rounds of ammunition of different calibres, two high-explosive hand grenades, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) weighing about 3.5 kg each, and a muzzle-loading barrel gun.

On the same day, security forces recovered another cache from Gourasingh Lok in the Luwangsangbam area under Heingang Police Station in Imphal East district. The haul comprised four high-explosive hand grenades, two electric detonators, a stun grenade, 21 live rounds of ammunition, 12 empty 7.62 mm cartridge cases, two INSAS LMG empty magazines and two bayonets.

Further operations on January 25 led to the recovery of arms and explosives from the Kakmayai Lamkhai area under Nongpok Sekmai Police Station in Thoubal district. The cache included a double-barrel breech-loading gun (DBBL), four high-explosive grenades, six IEDs, two magazines of different arms, 138 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, three 12-bore cartridges and five detonators.

In another significant operation, arms were seized from the foothill area of Jairolpokpi village under Jiribam Police Station. The recovered items included an SLR with magazine, seven locally made 12-bore single-barrel guns, two ‘Pompi’ launchers, a Para bomb, two IEDs, six magazines of different arms, 121 live rounds of ammunition, five empty Pompi shell cases and two walkie-talkie sets.

Meanwhile, on January 24, security forces recovered a separate cache from Iroisemba Ching under Lamphel Police Station in Imphal West district. The seizure included an IED weighing approximately 3.5 kg, a wireless handset with charger, five hand grenades, three carbine magazines, 102 live rounds of ammunition, two empty .303 cartridge cases, 11 live Lathode shells, three live tear smoke shells, nine detonators and an arm ring.

Another operation on the same day at Elangba Ching in the Wangoo area under Wangoo Police Station in Kakching district resulted in the recovery of a Ghatak assault rifle, two DBBLs, three single-barrel breech-loading guns, four high-explosive grenades, two magazines of different arms, four tube-launching devices, 35 live rounds of ammunition, 14 empty cases, eight tear smoke grenades, eight tear smoke shells, two Baofeng handsets with chargers, a bulletproof jacket without plate, an HYT mobile radio, two pairs of boots and three helmets.