Manipur Governor AK Bhalla on Friday announced extension of the deadline
of surrender of arms upto 4pm of March 6.
The Governor of Manipur had, on February 20, 2025, asked to surrender the looted and illegally held arms and ammunition.
A press statement issued by the Governor on Friday said on 20th February 2025, he had issued a request to the people of all communities, particularly the youth in the Valley and Hills, to voluntarily come forward and surrender looted and illegally held weapons and ammunition to the nearest Police Station / Outpost / Security Forces Camp within seven days. The request has yielded a positive response.
Upon expiry of the seven days deadline for voluntary surrender of such arms, there has been demand from both valley and hill areas to extend the period for surrender.
The Governor said he considered the request and decided to extend the deadline up-to 4pm of 06 March 2025 for voluntary surrender of such arms. All those who are still holding such arms are requested to voluntarily come forward and surrender looted and illegally held weapons and ammunition to the nearest Police Station / Outpost / Security Forces Camp by the given deadline
i.e. March 6, 2025.
During this period no punitive action will be taken against the individuals who voluntarily surrender weapons. However, any person found in possession of illegal or looted arms after the given deadline will face legal action as per law. Further, the police and security forces would be taking up extensive operations after the said deadline, he added.
He said, “This is the last opportunity for everyone concerned to contribute to peace, communal harmony, safeguarding the future of our youths, and security of our society. We again request all those still in possession of such weapons to avail themselves of this final chance to surrender them without any fear of prosecution within the given period. Come Forward and Choose Peace.”
In response to the call, the Arambai Tenggol, a cultural body which took up arms after May 3, 2023 laid down all its arms on Thursday.
