Imphal, Feb 20 (NationPress) The Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, on Thursday appealed to the citizens to return the looted arms and ammunition to the government within a period of seven days; failure to do so will result in strict action against those possessing these weapons.

In his message, the Governor expressed the government’s serious concern regarding the illegal distribution of arms and ammunition that were either misappropriated or unlawfully taken from various locations, including state armouries.

“These weapons represent a significant danger to the safety and security of our community,” he stated.

This appeal came eight days after President Droupadi Murmu enacted President’s Rule in the state and suspended the state Assembly on February 13 upon recommendation.

He noted that the residents of Manipur, both in the valleys and the hills, have endured severe challenges for the past 20 months due to a series of tragic events disrupting peace and communal harmony.

“For the greater good of restoring normalcy and allowing people to resume their everyday activities, all communities in the state must unite to ensure an end to hostilities and uphold peace and order in society,” he emphasized.

“Therefore, I earnestly request all community members, especially the youth in both the valleys and hills, to voluntarily surrender the looted and unlawfully held arms and ammunition to the nearest police station or security forces’ camp within the next seven days from today (February 20). Your act of returning these weapons can significantly foster peace. I assure you that no punitive measures will be taken if these weapons are returned within the specified time frame. After this period, strict action will be enforced for possession of such arms,” Bhalla remarked.

The Governor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution of the situation and safeguarding the future of the youth.

“Let us work together to rebuild our state with hope and trust for a brighter tomorrow. Choose peace,” he urged.

Reports indicate that during the ethnic riots that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, over 6,000 sophisticated arms and hundreds of thousands of ammunition were looted from police stations by mobs and militants. The security forces have since recovered a considerable number of these looted arms. Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, along with the state Home Department and other authorities, have previously appealed to the public to return the looted arms and ammunition, but the response has been minimal.

Former Union Home Secretary Bhalla took the oath as Governor of Manipur on January 3 and has since visited several troubled districts, engaging with community leaders, civil society representatives, and district administration officials as part of his peace restoration efforts.

He also engaged in numerous meetings with high-ranking Army, paramilitary, police officials, and politicians in Imphal to evaluate the current situation.