Joint Army and Police Team Defuses 7 Bombs in Manipur’s Imphal East District

An army column in Manipur received intelligence reports warning of hidden IEDs. In response, a bomb-disposal team successfully defused eight IEDs, each weighing 33 kg. A spokesperson emphasized that this swift and decisive joint operation between the Indian Army and Manipur Police averted major attacks on both security forces and commuters. The operation took place in the Saichang Itham area of Imphal East district, where Moirangpurel and Itham villages are located, and where farmers and cattle-grazers work.

In a separate joint operation, the army and police recovered a significant quantity of arms and ammunition in Imphal East District. This operation followed extensive search efforts launched from Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts. The 72-hour-long operation involved the use of patrol dogs and explosive detection dogs due to the complexity of the terrain, resulting in the recovery of various weapons, including 13 long-range mortars, four Burmese ‘iron rods’ (crude mortars), an IED, and a modified grenade launcher. Notably, Manipur has been plagued by violence for over a year due to conflicts between the Meitei community, dominant in the valley, and the Kuki tribes who reside in the hill areas.

This conflict has resulted in over 220 deaths and nearly 50,000 people being internally displaced. The Meiteis seek inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kuki tribes, who share ethnic ties with groups in neighboring Myanmar and Mizoram, seek a separate administrative unit within Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal distribution of resources and power.