Two Held With Pistols In Cachar, Police Flag Possible Insurgency Connection

Two people from Mizoram and Manipur were apprehended by Cachar Police on Tuesday evening (December 16) with firearms in their possession. The on-duty police arrested them during a routine naka check outside the Dholakhal Border Outpost near the Cachar-Mizoram border. Cachar Police has flagged a possible insurgency connection with this seizure, and this is the third case of smuggled firearms being seized in the district this month alone.

According to police, a vehicle bearing registration number AS-01-ET-2398, coming from the Mizoram side, was stopped for checking. During a thorough search of the vehicle, police recovered two pistols and live ammunition. The seized items included one .32 pistol with a magazine, one 7.65 mm pistol with a magazine and five rounds of 7.65 mm live ammunition.

The two arrested persons have been identified as Hmargaihzuol Hmar, aged 26, son of VL Sounga Hmar, a resident of Zuagtui, Tlangnuam Part in Aizawl district of Mizoram, and Lalkhumlien Hmar, aged 38, son of Lungoi Hmar, a resident of Lamabhutangkhal in Imphal East district of Manipur.

Police said the arms were allegedly being smuggled to the Hmarkhawlien area under the Lakhipur police station.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Cachar, Partha Pratim Das, said it was too early to comment on the exact motive behind the smuggling. He stated that such arms often come from Myanmar and are usually meant for sale. He added that there could be a possible link to insurgent activities, as some groups operate in the Hmarkhalien area.

The SSP mentioned that the Hmar People’s Convention, particularly non-surrendered elements from Mizoram, could be involved, but stressed that nothing can be said with certainty at this stage. He also assured that there is no immediate cause for concern in Cachar and said that strict checking has been put in place to ensure public safety.

Although the SSP stated that there is no reason for concern in Cachar, it is important to note that this is the third such case of illegal arms recovery detected by the police in recent times. The SSP clarified that each of these cases is separate and isolated, and not linked to one another. However, the repeated recoveries continue to raise questions and underline the need for sustained vigilance in the region.

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Legal action has been initiated as per the law, and further investigation is underway. Police have also intensified security checks along the borders with Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur, and said such operations will continue.