Imphal: Altogether 56 new pistols were stolen from one of Manipur police's armouries, along with 58 loaded magazines. Investigations led to the arrest of five persons, including two Manipur Rifles (MR) personnel and a militant.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday said the NIA has been requested to investigate the case.

"We discovered the loss of 56 auto 9mm 1A pistols from one of the storerooms. We arrested five persons while another policeman has been detained. Since this is a serious breach of national security, we wrote to the NIA on Friday to investigate the case," Biren Singh said.

The weapons were stolen from the DGP pool's Arms Kote located inside 2 MR here. Altogether 570 9mm pistols were kept here since September 2014 for supply to police personnel and other state forces. The armoury is guarded 24x7 and inside involvement is suspected.

Biren Singh said the weapons were stolen between September 2014 and March 29 this year. While checking the weapons on Thursday, newly-posted commander of 2 MR P. Manjit Singh discovered that they were missing. Imphal police station registered a case on Friday.

Police arrested havildar N.P. Damodaran, rifleman Narayan Chetry of 2 MR, Kuki Revolutionary Army cadre Ngamboi Haokip, 37, civilians M. Hiranjoy Sharma, 32, and Paonam Shanti Kumar, 48, in connection with the case.

Police also detained rifleman Laishram Anilkumar, 33, who is now in hospital here.

Anilkumar was earlier arrested in 2016 and suspended in connection with the recovery of a 9mm pistol. Three other persons were also arrested in connection with that case. Hiranjoy and Shanti Kumar were among those arrested at that time. The pistol was recovered from one of the four persons. Police believe that the pistol recovered from the four could be a stolen one.

Investigations found that the KRA cadre was also arrested in August last year along with a 9mm pistol and was released on bail. Police claimed the pistol recovered from him is one of the stolen weapons.

"Investigations suggest that the weapons were stolen during the previous government's tenure," Biren Singh said.

The NIA is yet to respond to the government's request.