Mugdha Das

Manipur: Several individuals surrender illegal arms and ammunition

Digital Desk: In major news, several individuals have surrendered illegal arms and ammunition to the authorities in response to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's appeal.

At the SP-Kakching office in Kakching District, one.303 rifle with a magazine, 13.303 ammunition, four BP vests, five BP plates, and four helmets were handed over.

Additionally, a looted tear gas gun was surrendered at the OC G. Saparmeina Police Station in Kangpokpi District.

Security forces also recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition from the Kakching Wairi area, including rifles, pistols, grenades, and live rounds of various calibers.

Furthermore, Indian currency worth Rs. 2,50,000 was also seized.

This development comes after 28 members of the Arambai Tenggol, including its commander, surrendered at Kakching, marking a significant step towards maintaining law and order in the region.

As the inquiry continues, authorities are validating the surrendered materials.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla served a week-long deadline for surrendering firearms looted in 2023, when the war between the Meitei and Kuki groups started.

This came on a day when security personnel boosted their efforts to combat illegal activity, seizing guns and destroying multiple "bunkers" in the Meitei-dominated Imphal East and Kuki-majority Tengnoupal districts. In a statement, the Governor stated that no legal action would be taken against those who surrendered the guns within a week but cautioned that possession of such weapons would result in severe consequences.

More than 6,000 weapons were stolen from armories, primarily in Meitei-dominated valley districts, and more than half of them remain untraceable. Some firearms were discovered from insurgent organizations in the Valley, who used them to blackmail government officials and traders. The looted weaponry includes INSAS, Ghatak, and AK rifles.