The CBI has filed a chargesheet against seven persons accused of being involved in the August 3 looting of arms and ammunition from the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) headquarters at Naranseina of Bishnupur district in Manipur.

The CBI filed the chargesheet against the seven accused — Laishram Prem Singh, Khumukcham Dhiren, Moirangthem Anand Singh, Athokpam Kajit, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei and Keisham Johnson — in a Guwahati court, reports emanating from Imphal said.

A mob had stormed the IRB establishment and looted more than 300 weapons, including AK series of rifles, 195 SLRs, 16 9mm pistols, and 19,800 rounds of ammunition, among others.

Five of the accused were also chargesheeted in the Manipur Police Training Centre (MPTC) arms looting case in Imphal.

Over 5,000 arms and 5 lakh ammunitions have been looted from police and battalion armouries in the state at least four times since the ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo communities began on May 3 last year.

Security forces have managed to recover about 1,800 arms, a cause of worry within the security establishment. The last looting of arms and ammunition took place at the 5th IRB in Imphal East in February.

According to governor Anusuiya Uikey, 10,000 FIRs have been filed in the conflict and 29 cases transferred to the CBI and one to the NIA for “transparent” investigation since the conflict began. Four more FIRs are to be transferred to the CBI and five to the NIA.