Officials on Sunday revealed that ethnic insurgent groups in Manipur, comprising both Meitei and Kuki factions, are modifying looted weapons, many taken during the 2023 unrest, and converting them into makeshift sniper rifles to enhance range and lethality.
Among the more than 6,000 arms looted from police armouries last year were .303 rifles, AK-series rifles, INSAS rifles, and carbines. According to a PTI report, authorities noted that standard .303 rifles typically have an effective kill range of around 500 metres. However, modifications—such as altered buttstocks and mounted telescopic sights—have increased their precision and reach. Officials added, “The round from the same rifle can travel much further, with more accuracy and lethality.” The AK-47, by contrast, is most effective within 300–400 metres.
These modifications indicate an intent to engage in long-distance combat. Before these weapons could significantly challenge security forces, joint operations involving Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, and other paramilitary forces led to the recovery of numerous arms across districts in the Imphal valley and hills.
In June, security forces recovered 328 weapons from Meitei-dominated groups across five Imphal Valley districts. In early July, another 203 arms were seized from four hill districts where Kuki insurgent groups dominate. Confiscated weapons included modified sniper rifles, grenade launchers, pistols, and country-made .22 rifles.
In the early phases of the 2023 clashes, authorities also recovered homemade weapons crafted from galvanised iron pipes and uprooted electric poles. As the violence escalated in June, hill residents—known for traditional hunting skills—crafted indigenous cannons known as pumpi or bampi. These improvised devices, filled with scrap iron and metallic fragments, were constructed by community blacksmiths (Thih-Kheng Pa) who often offered their services voluntarily to defend their people.
Officials highlighted the community’s expertise in guerrilla tactics, including ambushes and improvised explosive devices. The bampi, activated from a distance using electric charges, posed a high risk of explosion due to the unstable materials used in its assembly.
(With inputs from PTI)