The weapons were seized during a joint operation with the state intelligence agencies in the outskirts of Saithah village in Mamit district. (Representative Image)
Credit: PTI File Photo
Guwahati: Police in Mizoram arrested five people, including a prominent leader of Myanmar-based rebel group Chin National Front (CNF), with weapons meant for trade with United People's Democratic Front (P), a rebel group active in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
The weapons included six AK 47 rifles, 10.050 cartridges and 13 magazines, Mizoram police said in a statement on Thursday night.
The weapons were seized during a joint operation with the state intelligence agencies in the outskirts of Saithah village in Mamit district. This operation is one of the largest arms recoveries in Mizoram, delivering a stern warning to illegal operators in the region, police said.
"Preliminary investigation revealed that the confiscated arms and ammunition were intended for trade between the Chin National Front from Myanmar, a prominent rebel organisation - and the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF-P), another insurgent group active in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. This operation highlights the trans-national character of illegal arms dealings and emphasises the ongoing threats to regional stability," said the statement.
The CNF and its armed wing, Chin National Army have been fighting against Myanmar's military junta, which had taken over the elected government led by Aung Sang Suu Kyi in 2020.
UPDF-P, on the other hand, is a faction of a rebel group fighting for the ethnic Chakma community in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
"With this catch, a serious threat to regional peace and stability has been neutralised. The arrest of such a high-profile individual is a significant achievement in counter-insurgency operations in the state of Mizoram," it said.
Mizoram Police registered a case at West Phaileng police station in Mamit district. Further investigation to dismantle the arms smuggling network is underway, it said.