Manipur: Four top cops suspended in connection with missing weapons case

The Manipur government has suspended four high-ranking police officials, including an IPS officer, in connection with the case of missing weapons from 2nd Manipur Rifles armoury between 2014 and 2018, an official statement has said.

The officers will not be allowed to leave the premises of the state police headquarters without the consent of higher authorities, the statement issued by Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel, L Bikram, said on Saturday.

Altogether, 56 auto 9 mm pistols along with 58 magazines were found missing when the commandant of 2nd Manipur Rifles recently conducted a routine examination of the arms corte (armoury), Chief Minister N Biren Singh had told media on Saturday.

The missing arms belonged to a batch of 570 pistols that were received by the state police headquarters in 2014 for supply to 2nd Manipur Rifles, he had said.

The CM has written to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), seeking its intervention into the case.

"The matter relates to national security and a thorough investigation is required," Singh had told reporters on Saturday.

Two personnel of the 2nd Manipur Rifles have been arrested in connection with the case.