New Delhi: Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts in Manipur witnessed the voluntary surrender of multiple weapons and ammunition following an appeal by governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to hand over looted arms. The initiative, aimed at de-weaponising society and fostering a secure atmosphere, has been supported by Assam Rifles, CRPF, and local police through extensive public awareness campaigns. Amid ongoing ethnic tensions, the state has been placed under President’s Rule.
According to a TOI report, on Saturday, several weapons were voluntarily handed over in Churachandpur district. Among the surrendered items were: one M-16 rifle, one 7.62mm SLR, two AK rifles, three INSAS rifles, two M-79 40mm Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL), one 9mm carbine machine gun, one 51mm mortar, three .303 rifles, two single-barrel rifles.
Moreover, ammunition including 64 gelatine sticks, 10 rounds of 60mm Pumpi (improvised mortar) ammunition, 17 rounds of AK ammunition, 40 rounds of 5.56mm rifle ammunition, and three 9mm calibre rounds were surrendered. A looted tear gas gun was also handed over to the officer in charge of Saparmeina police station in Kangpokpi district.
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Surrenders in Kakching district
In Kakching district, one .303 rifle with a magazine, 13 rounds of .303 ammunition, four bulletproof vests, five bulletproof plates, and four helmets were voluntarily handed over to the local police station. Following the recent arrest of Arambai Tengkol members on February 20, security forces recovered and handed over additional weapons from the Wairi area to Kakching police.
The surrendered weapons included: one 5.56mm INSAS rifle, one 5.6mm calibre rifle, one .12 bore rifle, one 12-bore short gun, one 9mm pistol, one air pistol, one .303 rifle, four single-barrel 12-bore rifles, one 12-bore water cannon, one 36 hand grenade.
Ammunition surrendered included 27 live 9mm rounds, 92 live 7.62mm AK-47 rounds, 40 rounds of 7.62mm CTN, 45 live 5.56mm INSAS rounds, 13 live INSAS 20 KF (small) rounds, 65 live .303 rounds, 30 live 12-bore cartridges, and various empty magazines.
Manipur Police crackdown on extortion
The security situation in Manipur remains tense due to ongoing ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meitei communities and the hill-based Kuki-Zo groups. Since May 2023, over 250 people have been killed and thousands displaced due to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Manipur police conducted a major operation in Imphal West district, arresting six members of the banned Kanglipak Communist Party (Ibungo Ngangom) for extortion. Additionally, two members of another group were arrested in Imphal East district for forcibly collecting money from truck drivers in Sekmai, Irilbung, Koirengei, and Patsoi areas. The arrested individuals, identified as Ningthoujam Yamba Singh (43) and Usham Netaji Singh (35), allegedly seized truck keys to extort money.
