Imphal, June 14: In a significant update regarding the ethnic violence in Manipur, Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh announced that approximately 70 percent of the weapons looted during the unrest have been recovered. Efforts are intensifying to locate and retrieve the remaining arms and ammunition.
DGP Singh emphasized that strict action will be taken against individuals unlawfully possessing weapons and ammunition, as well as those attempting to take the law into their own hands.
Speaking to reporters, he stated, “The police and other security forces will deal firmly with those still illegally holding weapons and ammunition. We will take stringent action against them according to the law, and they will be arrested at all costs.”
He further warned that anyone who attempts to shoot at or attack duty-bound police officers and security personnel will face severe consequences.
DGP Mukesh Singh confirmed that search operations and stringent security measures will continue across various districts until normalcy is fully restored.
The Manipur police have been continuously urging all concerned individuals to return looted weapons, ammunition, and explosives to the police or nearby security force locations immediately.
In a call to combat misinformation, the senior IPS officer urged against spreading rumors or false information on social media, noting that a significant amount of misleading content is circulating online.
“The Social Media Monitoring Cell is taking action against those spreading false and malicious information. We are actively working on such cases and shutting down anti-social or anti-national sites and platforms,” DGP Singh added.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination among various law enforcement agencies while maintaining fairness, neutrality, and professionalism in serving the public.
It is noteworthy that efforts to recover looted and illegally held weapons began on May 31, 2023, following former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s appeal for individuals to surrender their arms.
The campaign to recover the looted weapons gained momentum after Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla issued a new appeal urging all concerned individuals to voluntarily surrender illegally held weapons and ammunition.
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