​Over 3k illegal arms recovered in Manipur in past 1 year: DGP Rajiv Singh

Imphal: Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh on Sunday said the overall law and order situation in all districts of the state has improved by leaps and bounds, with the recovery of 3,014 illegal arms and 30,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as the surrender of over 1,000 illegally possessed arms along with 15,000 ammunition to security forces over the past year.Singh made this statement while speaking during the 134th Raising Day of Manipur Police at the parade ground of 1st Manipur Rifles in Imphal.Emphasising the force’s continued dedication to maintaining peace, law and order despite ongoing challenges in the state, the DGP said at least 1,124 extremists belonging to different outfits have been arrested and two extremists have been killed. At the same time, 26 insurgents have been detained under the NSA, he said.

He highlighted that combined forces have successfully recovered a substantial cache of weapons from fringe and vulnerable areas, both in the hills and the valley, over the past year.Apart from arms and ammunition, 445 IEDs, 809 hand grenades, 25 bombs, 30 explosive substances, two improvised rockets, four RPG mortar shells, 61 lathode shells, 188 pompi shells, and 1,137 detonators were also recovered. Besides, in response to the request from governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, over 1,000 illegal weapons along with 15,000 ammunition and 721 explosives were surrendered to security forces, he added.

Singh said things now appear to be on the right track in Manipur. “With people’s continued cooperation and support, I think peace and normalcy should not be far away. People’s trust and assistance are invaluable in a collective effort to maintain peace and security in these challenging times,” he said.The Raising Day parade featured a march past led by Sarangthem Ibomcha Singh, commandant of the 6th India Reserve Battalion.During the ceremony, Bhalla distributed trophies and awards to outstanding police stations, battalions, and personnel in recognition of their exemplary service, bravery and dedication to duty.Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla commended the courage, dedication, and professionalism of Manipur Police in ensuring peace and normalcy in the state. The people of Manipur look to their police, not just as law enforcers, but as guardians of peace and harmony, he said, exhorting every officer and personnel to uphold this sacred trust.

He also said peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, trust and compassion.“While we take pride in our achievements, we must not lose sight of the challenges ahead. The threats to internal security, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and social discord remain. These challenges need to be tackled with courage, cooperation, and conviction,” Bhalla added.