Surrender looted weapons: Manipur Governor's 7-day ultimatum amid unrest

Amid the ongoing President's Rule in Manipur, Governor Ajay Bhalla has asked all communities to surrender looted and illegal weapons within seven days, assuring no punitive action.

Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla on Thursday asked people from all communities to surrender looted and illegally held weapons within seven days and assured that no punitive action would be taken against those who comply with the ultimatum.

"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 society," the Governor said in an official statement.

Bhalla also that for more than 20 months, the people of Manipur — both in the valley and the hills — have faced significant hardships due to a series of distressing events that have disrupted communal harmony.

"It is in this regard that I sincerely request people of all communities, particularly the youths in the Valley and Hills, to voluntarily come forward and surrender the looted and illegally held weapons and ammunition to the nearest police station, outpost, security forces camp within the next seven days, with effect from today. Your single act of returning these weapons can be a powerful gesture towards ensuring peace. I want to assure you that no punitive action would be initiated if such weapons are returned within the stipulated time. Thereafter, strict action will be taken for possession of such weapons," the statement added.

President's rule was imposed in Manipur last week and the state assembly was put under suspended animation, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post.

Biren Singh resigned from Chief Minister's post almost two years after the ethnic violence started in the northeastern state.

The violence in Manipur began in May 2023 and saw brutal clashes between the majority Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo tribal groups in the surrounding hills, resulting in over 250 deaths besides displacing thousands of people.

News is originally taken from: https://bit.ly/3D1iLQk

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