Imphal: Two hand grenades were recovered during mopping operations launched by the police as a part of security measures for the upcoming Sangai Festival, a police source said on Friday.
It said that one of the hand grenades was found planted near a welcome gate installed along the NH-2 at Luwangsangbam under Heingang police station of Imphal East district.
The hand grenade was discovered during a search operation in the area by a team of Imphal East police commandos based on specific information regarding movement of anti-social elements there on Thursday night, around 8 pm.
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The police suspected that the hand grenade might have been planted to cause damage to the temporary welcome gate installed there in connection with the upcoming festival.
In the morning of the same day, the police commandos of the same district recovered yet another hand grenade at the auto-rickshaw parking at Khabam Lamkhai on the side of NH-2 under Heingang police station.
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The police commandos detected the hand grenade during a search operation in and around the auto rickshaw parking, a part of security measure being taken up in view of the upcoming 10-day Manipur Sangai Festival due to commence from November 21.
The police have been conducting mopping operations in various parts of the state, particularly in the area surrounding the venues of the festival well ahead of the festival to flush out anti-social elements and prevent untoward incidents that will breach the law and order.
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Meanwhile, Imphal West police commandos conducted cordon and search operations at some areas of the district as they continued the mopping operations today.
The police commandos conducted search operations at as many as nine lodging hotels located at Thangal Bazar.
The police commandos verified occupants of the hotels during the operation.
Another team of police commandos also conducted cordon and search operations in and around Kwakeithel and Akham Leikai areas of the district this morning.
There were no reports of rounding up anti-social elements or suspects during the operations, the police source said.
The police have been conducting mopping operations at various places of the state, particularly in the vicinity of the festival venues and Imphal Airport as VVIPs and VIPs are expected to visit the state during the upcoming Sangai Festival.
Manipur Tourism department is hosting the festival due to commence from November 21.
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