Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has issued a firm directive, calling on individuals from all communities to surrender looted and illegally possessed weapons within seven days. He cautioned that those who fail to comply will face strict punitive measures.
In an official statement released today, Governor Bhalla assured that individuals who voluntarily return such weapons within the specified period will not face legal repercussions. However, he emphasized that the state will not permit the possession of looted or illegal arms beyond the deadline.
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“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. In the greater interest of restoring normalcy, so that people can return to their normal day-to-day activities, all communities in the state must come forward to ensure cessation of hostilities and maintenance of peace and order in the society,” stated Manipur Raj Bhavan.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes between the Meitei community and various Kuki tribal groups for nearly two years, resulting in widespread violence, displacement, and a concerning rise in civilian-held weapons.
The situation worsened earlier this month when former Chief Minister N Biren Singh and his council of ministers resigned on February 9. Following their resignation, the Governor suspended the state assembly, effectively stripping MLAs of their powers while keeping them in office. Since then, the state has been under President’s Rule.
The latest directive is part of ongoing efforts to restore stability in a region still struggling with deep-rooted ethnic tensions. Security experts have repeatedly warned that the unchecked circulation of weapons could further escalate hostilities.
A similar order was issued in September 2023 by Biren Singh, a few months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit, during which he also urged the surrender of illegal arms.
Since the conflict erupted on May 3, 2023, hundreds of people have lost their lives, and lakhs have been displaced.
