
A week after President's Rule in Manipur, Governor issues 7-day ultimatum to surrender looted weapons
Imphal/New Delhi : A week after the President's Rule was imposed in Manipur, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has issued an ultimatum asking all people from across every community to surrender looted and illegally held weapons and ammunition within seven days.
No punitive action will be taken against those who return such weapons within the deadline, the Governor said in a statement on Thursday.
However, strict action will be taken to keep looted or illegal weapons after the seven-day deadline ends.
"People of Manipur, both in 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," Governor Bhalla said in the statement.
"It is in this regard that I sincerely request the people of all communities, particularly the youths in the valley and hills, to voluntarily come forward and surrender 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," the Governor said.
To restore peace and normalcy in the state, Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, has urged the people, especially the youth, to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held weapons. pic.twitter.com/z3YFhl7NVS
— RAJ BHAVAN MANIPUR (@RajBhavManipur) February 20, 2025
Manipur, which shares an open border with Myanmar, has been witnessing ethnic clashes between the Meitei community and over a dozen distinct tribes collectively known as Kuki for nearly two years.
The state was brought under the President's Rule following Chief Minister N Biren Singh and his council of ministers' resignation on February 9.
According to reports, an estimated 6,000 firearms were looted from police stations and armouries across Manipur after ethnic clashes broke out on May 3, 2023.
Some 4,000 firearms are still missing, said reports. Some of the recovered firearms include American-origin M-series assault rifles. Approximately 30 percent of looted weapons have been recovered so far, NDTV quoting police sources reported.
Top Headlines
-
News
'Heard India will be dropping its tariffs substantially': Donald Trump ahead of announcing reciprocal tariff
April 01, 2025
-
News
Israel Defense Forces says senior Hezbollah official Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdeir eliminated
April 01, 2025
-
News
Red Cross 'outraged' by deaths of eight medics in Gaza
March 31, 2025
-
News
More than 150 killed, hundreds injured as 6 earthquakes devastate Myanmar, tremors felt in Bangkok
March 28, 2025
-
News
'Now it's our turn': Vladimir Putin accepts Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India
March 27, 2025
-
News
Canada Polls: Khalistani critic Chandra Arya barred from running under Liberal Party's banner over alleged 'India' ties
March 26, 2025
-
News
Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal attacked, arrested In West Bank, claims co-directors
March 25, 2025
-
News
'I have a very good relationship with India but they're one of the highest tariffing nations': Donald Trump
March 20, 2025
-
News
Donald Trump will back Volodymyr Zelenskyy get more air defence from Europe: White House
March 19, 2025
-
News
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin discuss ways to end Ukraine war in a two-hour call
March 18, 2025