Imphal | A major recovery of firearms, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other war-like stores from the Loktak Lake area in Manipur’s Bishnupur district has renewed attention on the lake’s floating phumdis, which security agencies say have repeatedly been used as hideouts and weapons dumps by armed groups.

Security forces on Tuesday carried out an intelligence-based operation near Sendra Hill under Moirang Police Station and recovered a large cache of illegal arms and explosives concealed in the remote lake area.

According to Manipur Police, the seizure underscores the continued presence of illegally hidden weapons in the inaccessible stretches of Loktak Lake.

“The recovery highlights the continued presence of illegally concealed arms and explosives in remote and inaccessible locations, particularly around the phumdis of Loktak Lake, which have repeatedly been used as hideouts and dumping grounds for weapons by anti-social and armed elements,” a police statement said.

The recovered cache included a .32 pistol with a magazine, a single-barrel breech-loading (SBBL) gun, a .22 bolt-action rifle, a Jefferson rifle with a magazine, nine locally made carbine (CMG) firearms with magazines, two locally made MP-5-type firearms with magazines, three locally made Lathode guns, two Pompi guns, six packets of improvised explosive devices and other ammunition and accessories.

The phumdis-floating masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter unique to Loktak Lake-are home to sections of the local fishing community, many of whom live in floating huts constructed on these biomass formations. However, their dense vegetation, shifting landscape and limited accessibility have long posed operational challenges for security forces.

Security agencies have repeatedly flagged these floating islands as vulnerable locations that can be exploited by insurgent groups to conceal arms, evade surveillance and establish temporary hideouts.

Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast, has featured prominently in counter-insurgency operations over the years. In 2009, security forces launched Operation Summer Storm, a large-scale offensive targeting militant hideouts believed to be operating from the lake’s floating settlements and phumdis.

The latest recovery comes amid intensified intelligence-led operations across Manipur aimed at recovering illegal weapons, explosives and ammunition following prolonged ethnic violence in the state.

Police said search operations and area domination exercises are being conducted regularly across both hill and valley districts to recover illegal arms, curb militant activity and strengthen law and order.

Investigators are now examining the origin, ownership and intended use of the seized cache while efforts continue to identify those responsible for concealing the weapons. Officials said similar operations will continue in vulnerable locations across the state as part of sustained efforts to prevent violence, dismantle illegal arms networks and restore lasting peace and normalcy in Manipur.