The Zomi-Kuki community voluntarily surrendered 16 more weapons to the security forces in the Churachandpur district on Saturday, the officials said.
This comes after Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged the people of the state on February 20 to surrender looted and illegally held arms within seven days. A substantial number of arms and ammunition had been surrendered a day after the Governor’s call.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the PRO of IGAR (South) said the voluntary surrender of arms followed after Assam Rifles along with CRPF, police, state intelligence agencies and state administration engaged with the local community leaders. It said the surrendered weapons include an M-16 Rifle, a 7.62 mm SLR, two AK Rifles, three INSAS Rifles, two M-79 40mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, one 9mm Carbine Machine Gun, one 51 mm Mortar, three .303 Rifles, two Single Barrel Rifles.
On Saturday, in response to the appeal, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) also said the seven-day deadline is “too short for meaningful engagement with the stakeholders and the public”.
COCOMI also sought assurance “that all armed Kuki militant camps under SoO in the surrounding hill areas be shifted to other locations so that law and order is fully restored”.
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