MANIPUR GUV CHAIRS SECURITY REVIEW MEETING

Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla chaired a security review meeting at Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Tuesday, following Union home minister Amit Shah's March 1 directive to security forces to ensure free movement of people in the strife-torn state from March 8.

- Thomas Ngangom

NEW DELHI: On the afternoon of March 1, Assam Rifles personnel posted in Mizoram's Siaha district, sandwiched between the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Myanmar border, apprehended a man with 46 packets of explosives, a military camouflage outfit, and ammunition. This marked the ninth time this year that the force intercepted explosives being smuggled from the northeastern state to anti-junta forces in Myanmar or insurgent groups in Bangladesh.

In 2024, there were 13 such seizures, aggregating over 2000 kg of explosives, at least 60,000 detonators, and 13,000 gelatine sticks, according to data reviewed by Hindustan Times.

But in the first two months of this year, there have been nine seizures, involving 1150kg explosives, 15,270 detonators, and 6,030 gelatine sticks.

The source of the explosives is usually licensed dealers who sell them for use in mining and quarrying; but there is significant misappropriation, and then smuggling.

Senior Assam Rifles officers said the force's Mizoram unit has written to the state government multiple times in the past six months about such explosives being misappropriated and sold to pro-rebel forces in Myanmar fighting the country's military junta. In the latest case, Assam Rifles personnel suspect the consignment was destined for Bangladesh. Mizoram shares a border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, and both countries are in strife.

"The most recent letter was sent last month about our growing concern related to explosives being misused and sold to insurgent groups across the country's border. There is a need to monitor the sale of explosives by the state's licensed dealers. These explosives are commonly used in mining, quarry, and construction work," said one officer who asked not to be named.