In a significant operation, Assam Rifles personnel recovered a StarLink antenna and router, along with a cache of prohibited items suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar, during a raid in Manipur’s Imphal East district on (December 13).

Among the items seized was an MA 4 assault rifle, a weapon manufactured in Myanmar and widely used by the Myanmar military. Over recent months, security forces in Manipur have consistently uncovered various Myanmar-made weapons and equipment from militant hideouts. The recovered items include bulletproof vests, military fatigues, and weapons smuggled across the porous India-Myanmar border.

In the past week alone, forces seized seven pistols marked “Made in Burma,” five MA 4 rifles, and one AK-47 rifle. “The pistols recovered here are distinct from those manufactured in India. Myanmar-made pistols have a unique grip design and are often stamped with ‘Made in Burma,’” a senior officer explained.

Two days before the StarLink equipment was found, another operation in Manipur’s Chandel district led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle. Security personnel identified the rifle as Myanmar-made based on its serial number, which differs from those used by Indian forces.

Since ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur 19 months ago, hundreds of bulletproof vests, military uniforms, and boots—many of which were traced back to Myanmar—have been recovered. “These uniforms and vests are procured in bulk by militant groups to avoid civilian detection. Alongside weapons, we often find dozens of military fatigues and boots in their camps,” the officer noted.
Myanmar shares a 1,643-km porous border with India, and while the government has initiated fencing along the stretch, only 30 km has been completed in Manipur. Smugglers exploit the unfenced sections to traffic weapons and military gear into the state. Despite checkpoints and integrated border posts, the region remains vulnerable to cross-border smuggling, posing a challenge to security forces.
 

BOB Post