Manipur security forces have recovered 114 weapons, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), grenades, and ammunition, following the expiration of the two-week period for voluntarily surrendering looted and illegal arms, officials said on Saturday.
According to an official statement, intelligence-based operations were conducted across multiple districts, including Bishnupur, Senapati, Thoubal, Jiribam, Chandel, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Imphal East, and Imphal West. These operations led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and war-like supplies.
During the voluntary surrender period, which ended on March 6, more than 1,000 arms and large quantities of ammunition were handed over to security forces, a senior police officer said. The initiative aimed to curb the circulation of illegally held weapons amid ongoing ethnic tensions in the state.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had initially given armed groups a deadline of February 20 to surrender their weapons, which were either looted from security forces or illegally possessed. After receiving requests from communities in both the hill and valley regions, the deadline was extended to March 6.
The administration assured that no punitive action would be taken against those who voluntarily surrendered their weapons, emphasizing that this was the “last opportunity” to contribute to peace, communal harmony, and security in Manipur.
Sources By Agencies