Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extends deadline for surrender of looted, illegal arms till March 6

IMPHAL: Manipur's governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla announced on Friday an extension for surrendering illegal and looted weapons. The new deadline has been set to 4pm on March 6, as stated in an official release.
This extension was granted in response to requests from residents of both hill and valley regions who sought more time to comply.
"Upon the expiry of the seven-day deadline for the voluntary surrender of arms, there have been requests from both the valley and hill areas to extend the period. I have considered these requests and decided to extend the deadline until 4 PM on March 6," the statement read.
It also guaranteed that no punitive action would be taken against individuals who voluntarily surrender their weapons within this timeframe, highlighting the importance of compliance that "this is the last opportunity for everyone concerned to contribute to peace, communal harmony, the future of our youth, and the security of our society."
The security advisor urged conflicting groups on February 20 to voluntarily hand over weapons stolen from security forces and other illegal arms within a week's duration, which concluded on Thursday.
Over the course of the seven-day period, members of the public voluntarily surrendered more than 300 weapons, with the majority being turned in from various districts across the valley region. This initiative was part of an effort to restore peace and stability in the conflict-affected areas.
The ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which erupted in May 2023, have led to a devastating humanitarian crisis. The violence has resulted in the tragic loss of over 250 lives and has displaced thousands of people, leaving them without shelter and struggling to rebuild their lives.
In the wake of chief minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, the central government took decisive action by imposing President’s Rule in the state on February 13.
As a result, the state assembly, which remains constitutionally valid until 2027, has been placed under suspended animation, effectively halting legislative activities.