By Disha Gupta
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla of Manipur on Thursday requested residents of all communities in the state to turn in stolen and unlawfully obtained firearms to the closest security facilities within the next seven days. He also stated that weapons turned in during this period would not face any penalties. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the governor of Manipur, has given citizens seven days to turn in any firearms they may have unlawfully obtained. Bhalla called for the restoration of weapons in order to bring peace and normalcy back to the state, citing prolonged destruction and the enforcement of President’s Rule. The directive coincides with ongoing security operations and militant arrests.
He warned in his appeal that “strict action” would be taken against those who continued to retain such weapons after this time. Since the war started in May 2023, around 6,000 weapons have been stolen from state armories.
There are still periodic attempts to remove guns from these armories twenty-one months later. In the most recent attempt, on February 8, three AK weapons and six SLRs were stolen from a Thoubal district police outpost; however, the police recovered the weapons the next day.
“With effect from today, I respectfully request everyone in all communities, especially the young people in the Valley and Hills, to come forward voluntarily and turn in stolen and unlawfully held ammunition and weapons to the closest police station, outpost, or security forces camp within the next seven days. Returning these weapons can be a significant step toward establishing peace. If such weapons are returned within the allotted time, I want to reassure you that no punitive action will be taken,” he said. The governor then issued a statement saying, “Strict action will be taken for possession of such weapons.”
“The government is dedicated to securing a peaceful settlement and protecting our children’s future. Together, let’s rebuild our state with optimism and faith for a better future. It said, “Come forward and choose peace.”