Manipur Governor Appeals For Surrender Of Illegal Arms To Restore Peace

IMPHAL: In a major appeal for peace, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla appealed to people from all communities, particularly the youth, to surrender illegal weapons in an effort to bring peace back to the state. The appeal is made in the aftermath of President's rule imposed in Manipur after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned amid simmering ethnic violence.

Governor Bhalla stressed the need for voluntarily surrendering looted and illegally possessed weapons, saying that this would be a strong gesture towards maintaining peace. He assured the public that no punitive action would be taken against those who hand over their weapons in the next seven days. However, he warned that strict action would follow after this grace period for those found in possession of illegal arms.

The backdrop to this appeal is the severe ethnic violence that has plagued Manipur, resulting in over 250 fatalities and displacing thousands since the conflict began. The conflict primarily involves clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

During his speech, Bhalla pointed out the sufferings of the people of Manipur for the last twenty months due to continuous unrest. He urged all communities to make joint efforts to stop violence and restore normalcy, appealing to them to surrender weapons to the nearest police station or security camp. The Governor again reaffirmed the government's resolve to find a peaceful solution and protect the future of the youth of the state.

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