11 firearms including an AK 56 rifle surrendered by the public in Manipur's Thoubal and Imphal East districts

PTI,  IMPHAL, FEB 24, 2025 :  At least 11 firearms, including an AK 56 rifle, were surrendered by the public in Manipur's Thoubal and Imphal East districts, police said on Monday. Seven firearms, including one SMG carbine with magazine, one tear gas gun, two sniper rifles, one double barrel gun, one single barrel gun, one .38 mm pistol, two 2-inch mortar shells, two improvised IEDs, and seven hand grenades, were surrendered by the public at the Thoubal district SP office on Sunday, police said.

Three firearms, including an AK 56 rifle with magazine, one MAS series bolt action sniper rifle with magazine, and one 303 rifle with magazine, were surrendered by the public at Imphal East district SP office on Sunday, they said. Two hand grenades and 44 ammunition were also surrendered to Imphal East district. One 9mm carbine A1 was also surrendered on Saturday at Imphal police station.

Meanwhile, security forces during search operations in Langza area of Churachandpur district seized one .303 rifle with magazine, three single barrel (country made) guns, one high trajectory modified 81 mm mortar (pumpi), three IEDs, ammunition, and three improvised bombs on Sunday.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on February 20 had urged the people of the strife-torn state to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held weapons within seven days, assuring no punitive action would be initiated against those giving up arms during this period. However, Bhalla asserted that "strict action" would be taken after the expiry of the seven days. "People of Manipur, both in the valley and hills, have suffered immense hardship for the last over 20 months due to a series of unfortunate incidents affecting peace and communal harmony," he said in an appeal issued on Thursday.

President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 and the assembly was put under suspended animation, days after N Biren Singh resigned from the CM's post, which led to political uncertainty in the state. Singh, who was heading the BJP government in Manipur, resigned as the chief minister after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives so far.

Earlier, Manipur Chief Secretary PK Singh on Sunday said the seven-day time given for voluntarily surrendering looted and illegally held weapons is enough if one wants to give up arms, and asserted that the forces will take action after the expiry of the period to recover such guns. "The seven-day period is good enough. If one decides to give up arms, it can be done in a day. After that (period), we will go and take such weapons from them," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event. He said the administration has been working on multiple fronts and there has to be peace and normalcy. "Weapons should not be at the hands of the public. That is a dangerous situation. Weapons in the hands of those who are not authorised to use it is a dangerous situation... Looted weapons or any other weapons pose a threat to society. It's first and foremost duty to recover illegal firearms," Singh said.

More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had imposed President's rule in Manipur on February 13, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post, leading to political uncertainty in the northeastern state. The Manipur assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The chief secretary also said, "Opening the highways, bringing normalcy, and some kind of confidence building on both sides (are important). Let people understand the problems. Everyone wants (the turmoil) to be over. There is a lot of hope in society. Everybody says it's time to bring peace."