In a sweeping display of compliance following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal for weapon surrender, over 140 weapons were turned in throughout various regions of Manipur, India. The gesture arrived on the heels of Shah’s recent visit to the violence-stricken state, where he spent four days surveying the current situation and conversing with a diverse selection of the local population.
During his visit, the minister appealed to those in possession of weapons to relinquish them to security forces and administrative authorities, issuing a stern warning about impending search-and-combing operations and the prosecution of anyone found with illegal weaponry. His call to action was promptly met with the surrender of an array of firearms, including self-loading rifles, carbines, AK and INSAS rifles, light machine guns, pistols, M16 rifles, smoke guns, tear gas, sten guns, and grenade launchers.
In the aftermath of his plea, issued in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, the situation has seen a significant improvement. The state has experienced relative calm, with sporadic violent incidents dwindling as multi-agency security efforts intensify. Ethnic clashes initially ignited in the state following a Tribal Solidarity March on May 3, protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The unrest led to the loss of over 80 lives, according to official reports.
As the state grapples with the aftermath of the unrest, over 37,450 displaced people are currently taking shelter in 272 relief camps. This includes residents from districts such as Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Kakching, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Senapati, Kamjong, and Chandel.
Aiming to optimize the security situation in Manipur, Shah has proposed the formation of an Inter-Agency Unified Command for enhanced coordination among all the security agencies working on the ground. He also issued a firm warning against any violations of ceasefire agreements by militant groups, promising stringent action against any breach of these pacts.
Shortly after his return from Manipur, Shah paid a courtesy visit to President Droupadi Murmu. The meeting, described as a courtesy call, came after his mission to Manipur to understand the intricacies of the ongoing ethnic conflict and search for resolutions. The Rashtrapati Bhavan also acknowledged the meeting between President Murmu and Home Minister Shah on its official Twitter account.
