New Delhi: Months after police armouries were looted in Manipur, the state government Friday called for all “illegal weapons” held by any person or group to be surrendered within 15 days, adding that those who don’t will be dealt with “severely”.
This is the first time that the state government has issued such a warning since the armouries were looted amid the ongoing ethnic violence, which began in May.
In a statement, the government said that it is willing to take a “considerate view” for the persons who surrender such illegal weapons within 15 days. At the end of this time frame, security forces — both of the Centre and the state — will undertake a search operation all over the state to recover such weapons, it added.
“All persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per the law,” the government said.
Thousands of weapons, including more than 200 AK-47s, 406 carbines, 551 INSAS rifles, and 250 machine guns — besides over 6.5 lakh rounds of ammunition have been looted from police armouries and stations over the past few months, primarily in the Meitei-dominated Imphal valley, according to police data.
However, there have been no substantial recoveries, leaving a significant arsenal in the hands of local residents and exacerbating the cycle of violence.
Numerous efforts to get people to give up arms — such as peace committee meetings, appeals led by local leaders, and joint combing operations — have failed so far.
Out of the over 5,668 stolen sophisticated automatic weapons, around 1,331 have been recovered so far, police data says. These weapons are being “openly used by civilians to carry out killings”, sources in the security establishment told ThePrint.
On 27 May, mobs had stormed the Manipur Police Training Centre in Pangei, Imphal East, and made off with a cache of weapons including self-loading rifles (SLRs), INSAS rifles, and light machine guns, .303 rifles, carbines, as well as grenades, tear gas shells and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Arms were also stolen from police battalions and stations in various locations, including some police stations in the Kuki-dominated hills.
Initially, some individuals responded to appeals from the government and local leaders by abandoning weapons in trees, fields, and even garbage heaps. However, even that meagre contribution has ceased, police sources said.
With a significant number of armed people roaming freely, incidents of fresh violence are being reported daily throughout the state, particularly in the foothills, leading to a constant rise in the toll.
The ongoing violence has claimed over 200 lives and displaced over 50,000 people, according to police data.
Manipur has been ablaze since 3 May, when simmering ethnic tensions erupted into full-fledged violence between the dominant Meiteis and tribal Kukis.
‘Extortion using illegal weapons a serious matter’
In its statement, the government also said that there have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants and groups using the stolen weapons.
“This is a serious matter and the state government will take strong action against such miscreants or groups in any part of the state,” the statement said.
On 16 September, Manipur Police arrested five armed Meiteis who were allegedly caught roaming around in police uniforms with sophisticated weaponry, including an INSAS and a self-loading rifle, around Kongba area.
They were subsequently booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Officials Secrets Act and Arms Act.
The arrest of the five men has led to a fresh spate of violence in Imphal valley that had become relatively calm in the last few weeks, forcing the police to reimpose a curfew in the area. The men were granted bail on Friday.
“The government also appeals to the people of the state to cooperate with both the central and state government in restoring peace and normalcy in the state,” the statement said.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)