IT News
Imphal, Mar 1:
The surrender of nearly 300 firearms by Arambai Tenggol (AT) on Thursday has pushed the total number of weapons recovered so far to over 4,100, according to official sources. Authorities estimate that around 6,020 firearms were looted from state police stations and armouries during the peak of the ethnic violence.
On February 9, 2025, a total of 3,422 firearms had already been voluntarily surrendered by village volunteers at various police stations. Following an appeal by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on February 20, urging individuals to return illegally held arms, another 700 weapons were handed over, including 246 surrendered by Arambai Tenggol on February 27.
The large-scale looting of weapons had worsened the security situation, drawing national and international attention. Security forces have since intensified their efforts to recover the looted firearms and restore stability in the region. However, the exact number of weapons looted by Kuki village volunteers remains unclear, as no concrete figures have been disclosed.
Despite multiple peace talks and military interventions, sporadic violence and the proliferation of illegal arms continue to pose significant challenges.
