Manipur Government Calls for Surrender of Illegal Weapons Within 15 Days

Last Updated on September 23, 2023 by SPN Editor

Imphal/September 23, 2023 (SPN) | The Manipur government has issued an urgent appeal to the residents of the state, urging them to voluntarily surrender any illegal weapons within the next 15 days.

Failure to comply with this directive may result in extensive search operations conducted by both central and state security forces, according to a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office.

The statement emphasizes the government’s willingness to take a lenient approach towards individuals who voluntarily relinquish illegal weapons within the specified 15-day period, which commenced on Friday.

However, it firmly underscores that those associated with illegal weapons will face severe legal consequences once the grace period concludes. The press release highlights instances of extortion, threats, and abductions reportedly perpetrated by individuals wielding illegal weapons.

These activities are viewed as a grave concern, prompting the state government to take decisive action against such groups operating anywhere in the state. The government also extends an appeal to the people, urging them to cooperate with both the central and state governments in their efforts to restore peace and normalcy.

The joint commitment of residents and authorities is seen as essential in addressing the ongoing challenges and fostering a secure environment within Manipur.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government has submitted a confidential status report to the Supreme Court regarding the recovery of arms and ammunition in the violence-affected state, as reported on Friday.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud about the filing of the report, emphasizing its confidentiality.

The Chief Justice, recognizing the sensitivity of the matter, agreed to accept the status report confidentially, stating, “Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue, the status report (on the recovery of arms) shall be made available only to this court.”

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This development comes in response to the Supreme Court’s directive issued on September 6, which requested the Manipur government and law enforcement agencies to provide a status report regarding the recovery of arms from “all sources” in the state, which has witnessed ethnic violence.

Earlier reports indicated that a total of 128 checkpoints or “nakas” have been established in various districts of Manipur, covering both the hill and valley regions. The Manipur Police have detained over 800 individuals for alleged violations of various laws in different districts of the state.

So far, 1195 stolen weapons have been recovered by Manipur Police. 138 arms were recovered from the hills while 1057 arms were retrieved from the valley districts of Manipur. Around 14201 ammunitions were also recovered by the government.