In Manipur, the Zomi and Kuki community of Churachandpur district voluntarily surrendered 16 weapons and ammunition to the security forces. The surrender of looted and illegally held weapons took place after the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, on Thursday appealed to members of all communities of the state to surrender looted police weapons and illegally held arms within seven days. The appeal note from Rajbhavan Imphal also informed that if the weapons were not surrendered within the given days, strict action would be followed for possession of arms.

After the Governor’s appeal, the Assam Rifles, along with the police, CRPF, state intelligence agencies, and state administration, engaged with local Zomi and Kuki community leaders to de-weaponise to bring peace and harmony to the state. Afterwards, the Zomi and Kuki community leaders engaged with the local population and voluntarily surrendered 16 weapons and ammunition to Assam Rifles today at Tuibong Village of Churachandpur district in the presence of community leaders, top officials of Assam Rifles, CRPF, police, state intelligence agencies, and district administration.

The voluntarily surrendered looted and illegal weapons and ammunition include one M-16 rifle, one 7.62 SLR, two AK rifles, three INSAS rifles, two M-79 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers, one 9mm carbine machine gun, one 51mm mortar, three. .303 rifles, and two single-barrel rifles. 64 gelatine sticks and a large number of live round ammunition.