Imphal, April 4 -- As part of ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in Manipur, a joint search operation led by the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Manipur Police, resulted in the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons in Kangpokpi district on Thursday.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the joint team launched a thorough search operation in the Chagoubung area under Kangpokpi Police Station. Upon approaching the targeted locations, a group of anti-social elements, who had been taking shelter in the area, fled on noticing the security forces, leaving behind the hidden weapons.

The recovered items included a country-made 9mm pistol, four country-made single-barrel bolt-action rifles, 20 rounds of 12-bore live ammunit...