Manipur: Chinese grenades, live AK-47 ammo seized from ZUF sympathizer
A huge consignment of weapons, ammunition, and explosives have been recovered from Manipur, after security forces apprehended a woman sympathizer of the Manipuri militant group Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF). The arrested woman has been identified as Azona Kamei, a self-styled joint secretary of the Publication and Information Department of the ZUF. Here are the details.
The ZUF is a break-away group of the NSCN-IM insurgent group formed in 2011. The ZUF was formed with the objective of protecting the natural resources, land, and people, and to preserve the unity and integrity of Zeliangrong Inpui, Chiru and other minority groups.
The operation was carried out jointly by Manipur Police commandos along with soldiers from the Assam Rifles at Tera Bazar in Imphal. Reportedly, after the arrest was made, the team recovered 1,120 rounds 7.62mm ammo for AK-47s, along with 20 Chinese hand grenades, and 20 detonators. The consignment had been hidden in a workshop in Tera Amudon in the Imphal West district.
Notably, the woman who has been arrested is the sister-in-law of the self-styled army chief of the ZUF, Darei Chiru. She had earlier been involved in the transportation of arms and ammunition, and had done so at the behest of Chiru. Given the large quantities of weapons and ammo found, the operation marks a huge success for the Manipur Police and the Assam Rifles.
Earlier this year in May, the Assam Rifles had seized another huge consignment of weapons and ammunition from a vehicle bound for Imphal. The seized items included two German-made GSG-5 assault rifles with four magazines, one Ukzon semi-automatic shotgun with three magazines, and three 9mm pistols of different makes. Additionally, detonators and over 6,000 rounds of different sorts of live ammunition had been seized.
