Based on specific intelligence, a joint team of the central forces and Manipur police launched a frisking operation and arrested three persons with the recovery of two sophisticated weapons and ammunition.

 The arrests and seizures were made at  Keishampat junction, the heart of Imphal city on Saturday night, the officials said on Sunday.

 The arrested individuals later identified as Naorem Inaotomba Singh (52), Wahengbam Inaocha (47) @ Iriba Meitei, and Wahengbam Homendro Singh (28) @ Naoton are from the Bishnupur District of Manipur.

 They were arrested on the charge of unauthorized possession of two self-loading rifles (SLRs) along with two magazines loaded with twenty rounds each.

 A case has been registered in this regard for further investigation.

 The police said that efforts are on to retrieve the looted weapons which more than 6,000 arms have been looted from security forces since ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Of them, 1,500 arms have been recovered from commoners while more than 4,500 arms are still in the open.