16 Weapons Surrendered in Churachandpur Following Governor’s Appeal

In response to an appeal by the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, members of local communities voluntarily surrendered 16 weapons and ammunition in Churachandpur district on Thursday. This marks a significant step towards de-weaponization and peace in the conflict-affected region.

The Governor had urged all communities to surrender looted police weapons and illegally held arms within seven days, warning of strict action against non-compliance. Following this appeal, Assam Rifles, in coordination with the police, CRPF, state intelligence agencies, and the state administration, engaged with community leaders. The discussions addressed security concerns, provided assurances of safety, and emphasized the positive impact of disarmament.

As a result of these efforts, community leaders mobilized local residents, leading to the first voluntary surrender of arms on February 22 at Tuibong Village in Churachandpur. The surrendered cache included one M-16 rifle, one 7.62mm SLR, two AK rifles, three INSAS rifles, two M-79 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers (UBGL), one 9mm carbine machine gun, one 51mm mortar, three .303 rifles, two single-barrel rifles, 64 gelatine sticks, ten rounds of 60 mm Pumpi (improvised mortar) ammunition, 17 rounds of AK ammunition, 40 rounds of 5.56mm rifle ammunition, and three 9mm caliber rounds.

Senior officials from the Assam Rifles, CRPF, state civil administration, police, and intelligence agencies were present to oversee the handover. Authorities have expressed optimism that this initiative will encourage other groups to lay down arms, contributing to lasting peace and development in the region.