DG conveyed some weapons still hidden in valley area : HM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 23: Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam has stated that some weapons are still hidden in the valley areas.
There will no more arrest once these weapons are surrendered to Government authorities, he said.
Govindas Konthoujam took part in an Olympic run and tree plantation programme held today at Olympic Bhavan, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex today.
Responding to queries raised by media persons by the sideline of the programme, the Home Minister  stated that he had talked with the DGP on the arrest of some members of Arambai Tenggol.
As per inputs received by the DGP and intelligence agencies, some weapons are still hidden in the valley areas.
Following the call of the Governor when Manipur was under President's Rule, a number of weapons were surrendered to the Government at the 1st MR ground during the window period given.
Security agencies have been asking all concerned to surrender these weapons.
It is said that there will be no more arrest or detention if all these weapons are surrendered, the Home Minister said while speaking to the media.
He added that he would talk again with the DGP today.
On being asked specifically about the arrest of some Arambai Tenggol members by the NIA, Govindas stated that the State Government will do everything to see that NIA, CBI and Manipur Police do not make arrests as far as possible once the hidden weapons are surrendered.
Except for some minor unwanted incidents, peace has returned in the valley areas.
Once there is complete peace in the valley, the Government will be able to pay more attention to the hill districts where there are serious law and order problems at present, the Home Minister said.
Once there is a peaceful atmosphere in the valley, additional security personnel will be sent to the hill districts, he said.
Unwanted incidents have receded in the valley but there are still many reports of unwanted incidents in the hill areas.
After deploying additional security forces including CoBRA commandos, search operations are being carried out in the hill areas to nab all those men involved in the killing of innocent civilians as well as those people who have been wielding weapons unlawfully, Govindas said.
Noting that there are still many disturbances and obstruction to free movement in the hill areas, he said that the Government has been working to address this issue.
There is no intention to kill or harass citizens behind the search operations being carried out in the hill districts but the DGP has been working hard to disarm all those people who have been wielding weapons unlawfully, the Home Minister stated.
Peace can be restored in the hill areas once the armed people are disarmed, he said.
He also appealed to all sections of people to cooperate and support the Government’s efforts to restore peace and an atmosphere of peace co-existence in the State.