Editor
In Short: A drop box for stolen weapons has been set up outside a BJP MLA's house in Manipur's Imphal East district. It allows anonymous weapon deposits amidst recent incidents of theft. A committee has rejected appeals to surrender the stolen weapons until certain conditions are met, sparking discussions on security and autonomy.
According to sources, anyone who wishes to drop a weapon into the box will not be questioned or asked to reveal their identity. The box is labeled with the words, "Please drop your snatched weapons here. Feel free to do so." Unfortunately, the MLA was unavailable for comment on this matter.
Recent incidents in the region have seen mobs looting over 5,000 weapons and ammunition from various locations. In response, the Army and security forces, following appeals from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister N Biren Singh, have conducted extensive search operations. These operations have resulted in the recovery of more than 900 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition, which were found abandoned in jungles and isolated places. Just last Thursday, a joint search operation led to the discovery of around 30 weapons and war-like stores by security forces.
Interestingly, the placement of this drop box comes after the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a group of civil society organizations based in Imphal Valley, rejected Home Minister Shah's appeal to surrender the stolen weapons. The committee has decided to oppose the search operations conducted by security forces until the complete eradication of "narco-terrorists" and external aggressors from Manipur's territory. During a recent convention on "Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist aggression in Manipur," held in Imphal, it was resolved that the weapons would not be surrendered until peace is restored and the threats to the region are eliminated.
The presence of this drop box has sparked intense discussions and debates in Manipur, as it represents the ongoing challenges and tensions faced by the region. The issue of stolen weapons and the resistance to surrender them reflect deep-rooted concerns regarding security, autonomy, and the influence of external forces. The future developments surrounding this drop box and the actions taken by authorities and concerned parties will undoubtedly shape the narrative of Manipur's struggle for peace and stability.