Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday appealed to people to surrender arms looted from security forces. He also warned of legal action against anyone found to be in unauthorised and illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
In a signed statement, the chief minister also appealed to all concerned in Manipur not to block roads and hinder the free movement of security personnel and relief material. Such roadblocks were making it extremely difficult for security and police personnel to respond to attacks by armed groups on time, Singh said.
"I appeal to all persons concerned to return and surrender the arms and ammunition which have been snatched from armed police battalions, police stations, etc., in valley and hill districts to the nearest police station/MR/IRB, etc. at the earliest.
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"Legal action as per the Arms Act 1959 and Rules will be taken in case any person is found to be in unauthorised and illegal possession of arms and ammunition during combing operations by security personnel or otherwise," the chief minister said.
Fresh violence
A day ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to violence-hit Manipur, fresh clashes erupted with sporadic incidents of shooting and arson.
Branding the Kuki militants as terrorists, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh claimed that nearly "40 armed militants" involved in torching houses and firing at civilians have been killed by security forces since they began an operation to bring peace to the north eastern state beset by ethnic rioting.
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The chief minister reiterated that the latest round of “conflict is not between communities but between militants and security forces”. Separately, police officials said on Sunday that at least two persons were killed and 12 injured in different instances of firing upon civilians and clashes between militants and security forces since the early hours of the day.
At Phayeng in Imphal West district, one person died and another sustained bullet injuries after being fired at by suspected Kuki militants, police officials said.
The latest clashes began after the army and para-military forces commenced combing operations to de-arm communities in order to bring peace, officials said. Singh also said that there had been cases of armed militants firing at civilians with AK-47s, M-16 and sniper rifles. These militants were targeted by security forces in counter-attacks.
(With inputs from PTI)
