Forty-two additional firearms and cartridges were surrendered by the public in five districts of Manipur, police confirmed on March 2, marking a continued trend of weapon returns in the strife-torn state. The surrender occurred across Imphal West and East, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, and Tamenglong districts on Saturday, reflecting a response to calls for peace amidst persistent ethnic conflict.
In Bishnupur district, residents turned in five firearms, including two pistols, alongside six grenades and over 75 cartridges. Tamenglong district saw a substantial handover at the Kaimai police station, where seventeen country-made guns, nine locally manufactured mortars known as ‘pompi’, and various cartridges were surrendered. Ten more firearms and cartridges were received at police stations in Yaingangpokpi, Porompat, Churachandpur, and Lamsang, according to a police officer.
Concurrent search operations in Sairemkhul, Imphal West district, led to the seizure of a significant cache of weaponry. This included an INSAS LMG with a loaded magazine, an AK-56 rifle, three SLR rifles, an SMG 9mm carbine, a .303 rifle, a DBBL gun, four grenades without detonators, a Chinese hand grenade, and other related items. Security forces also dismantled two illegal bunkers in the Mark Hill area under the Thingsat hill range in Kangpokpi district, and another three in the Wakan hill range, spanning Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s appeal on February 20, urging warring groups to voluntarily surrender weapons, has seen a notable response. Initially, over 300 firearms were surrendered in the valley districts during the initial seven-day period. Following requests for more time from residents in both hill and valley areas, the governor extended the deadline for the surrender of looted and illegal firearms to 4 pm on March 6.
The state has been grappling with intense ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, resulting in over 250 deaths and the displacement of thousands. The central government had imposed President’s rule in Manipur on February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, placing the state assembly under suspended animation. The assembly’s term was slated to continue until 2027.