Kolkata, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A 20-year-old youth from Manipur was apprehended by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel near the India-Nepal border after a live 9mm round of ammunition was found in his bag during a routine security check.
The youth, identified as Paogoulun Haokip, a resident of Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, claimed that he had found the bullet near his house around three months ago and had kept it with him. Police are in contact with authorities in Manipur to verify his background and antecedents.
The incident occurred during a routine inspection conducted by the SSB’s Border Intelligence Team on the New Bridge connecting Panitanki in West Bengal with Kakarvitta in Nepal. An ambulance travelling towards Nepal was stopped and checked around 350 metres from the border.
During the screening of baggage, the personnel detected and seized a live 9mm round from Haokip’s bag.
The ammunition bore the markings “9mm 2Z KF 20”, indicating that it had been manufactured at the ammunition factory in Kirkee, near Pune in Maharashtra. Such prohibited-bore ammunition is issued to the police and other security forces.
“During interrogation, Haokip stated that he was travelling with his family from Manipur to Kakarvitta, Nepal, for his father’s treatment at Mechi Eye Hospital. When asked about the bullet, he said that he had found it lying on the ground about three months ago and kept it in his possession since. He claimed that he was unaware of its presence in his bag,” a senior SSB official said.
Moreh, Haokip’s hometown, lies along the Myanmar border in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, an area affected by militant activity. Manipur has witnessed prolonged ethnic violence, with clashes involving several militant outfits resulting in more than 300 deaths, according to the information provided.
Thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition were also looted from police armouries during the unrest. Although some have been recovered, many remain untraced.
“At the moment, we are not assuming anything. All details are being sent to authorities in Manipur to check his background. Even if what he says is true, he is liable to be prosecuted for possessing a live bullet without proper documents,” the SSB official said.
The official added that Haokip could have faced serious consequences had the ammunition been detected by authorities in Nepal, which has strict gun laws.
He urged people not to retain ammunition or other potentially dangerous items they might find. Instead, such items should be reported to the police and handed over to the authorities.
In a separate incident a few days earlier, SSB personnel at Panitanki apprehended a resident of Sikkim who was attempting to enter Nepal with a licensed .32-bore pistol, 49 rounds of ammunition and an empty cartridge casing.
Officials had subsequently cautioned that people must not attempt to enter another country carrying a firearm, even if it is legally licensed in India. Such weapons must be declared and deposited at the customs checkpoint, they said.
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