Over 4,000 weapons still not deposited, Manipur Governor extends last date till March 6 to surrender looted firearms

Guwahati: With over 4,000 weapons looted from armories' in 2023 still not deposited, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday gave the "last chance" to surrender the weapons by extending the deadline by another one week, till March 6.

A week after President's Rule was promulgated, the Governor on February 20 had issued a deadline with appeal for voluntary surrender of all illegal weapons, including those looted from armouries, within a week (February 27). But only about 500 weapons were deposited till Thursday, when the deadline ended.

Several influential organisations representing the Meitei and Kuki organisations, however, urged the Governor to extend the deadline saying that one week time was little for the groups to decide about surrender the weapons.

A statement issued by Raj Bhavan on Friday said the deadline was extended in response to the requests for extension of the same.

"This is the last opportunity for everyone concerned to contribute to peace, communal harmony, safeguarding the future of our youths, and security of our society. We again request all those still in possession of such weapons to avail themselves of this final chance to surrender them without any fear of prosecution within the given period. Police and security forces would be taking up extensive operations after the said deadline," said the statement.

More than 6,000 sophisticated weapons and ammunition were looted from police camps, mainly in the Meitei-dominated valley in May 2023, when the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki communities had erupted. But less than 2,000 weapons have so far been recovered or deposited despite similar appeals.

Although some weapons were deposited in both the Valley and in the hills after the Governor's appeal, a significant development took place on Thursday when members of the Arambai Tenggol, the Meitei radical group, deposited 246 weapons, in response to Bhalla's appeal and "assurance" to address the grievances concerning the Meiteis. The Governor earlier said recovery of the weapons is the first priority towards restoration of peace in Manipur, which has remained on the boil since May 2023.