Imphal : An enormous stash of arms and ammunition was found by the combined forces and Manipur police in an operation from the jungles of Churachandpur district, Manipur bordering Myanmar on the south during the past 36 hours, an official statement said here on Friday.

Based on reliable intelligence of the presence of a cache of weapons in the village Khengmol and adjoining areas in Churachandpur district, a joint team of Assam Rifles, Indian Army, ITBP, and Manipur Police launched a search operation on Thursday.

A defense wing press statement said that the operation was launched in forest areas of the Khengmol, Tuibong, Khomawi, and Bethel villages and adjoining areas in the Churachandpur district. The operation yielded results and recovered a total of 23 weapons, ammunition, explosives, and other war-like stores.

The recovery included 20 locally fabricated mortars, two single-barrel rifles, one double-barrel rifle, gunpowder, and ammunition. The recovered items have been handed over to Churachandpur Police as per procedures, the statement added.