IMPHAL, March 4: 33 arms and ammunition were voluntarily surrendered by the public in five districts of Manipur, which has been reeling from ethnic violence. The voluntary arms surrender took place in Churachandpur, Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur districts, according to police officials on Tuesday.
The surrender of these weapons comes at a crucial time, as Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla recently extended the deadline for the surrender of looted and illegal arms to 4 PM on March 6. This extension was made following requests from the people in both the hill and valley areas, seeking additional time to return their weapons.
Governor Bhalla had initially called for the voluntary surrender of illegally held or looted weapons on February 20, giving a seven-day window for individuals to come forward without fear of punitive action. The extended deadline aims to give people more time to comply with this call, with Bhalla assuring that no legal actions would be taken against those who voluntarily surrendered their arms during this period.
While many have complied with the governor’s request, the state continues to deal with the aftermath of the ethnic violence between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups from the adjoining hills. The violence, which erupted in May 2023, has claimed the lives of over 250 people and displaced thousands.
In addition to the arms surrender initiative, Chief Secretary PK Singh reiterated that the seven-day period to return weapons was deemed sufficient. He also clarified that after the deadline expires, authorities would take steps to recover any remaining illegal firearms.
