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Manipur govt seeks report on 'unofficial' I-Day parade

August 18, 2023 13:35 IST

The Manipur government has sought a report from the Churachandpur deputy commissioner and superintendent of police over the display of sophisticated firearms by a group of people at an 'unofficial' Independence Day parade, a senior official said on Friday.

IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel fire tear gas to disperse the members of the Lamlai Kendra village volunteer force and displaced villagers from Gwaltabi who are protesting to demand the withdrawal of central security forces and the right to access their homes in Gwaltabi, which were burned during the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, at Yaingangpokpi, in Imphal East on August 16, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

State security advisor Kuldiep Singh said that lawful action will be taken against those displaying firearms at the parade.

"A report has been sought from the DC and the SP over the display of sophisticated firearms by a group of people at an unofficial Independence Day parade at Churachandpur on August 15. Once the report comes, we will take lawful action against all of them (those displaying firearms)," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Imphal.

He said over 1,250 firearms have been recovered so far from across the state.

A large number of firearms were looted from state police armouries during the last three months of ethnic clashes.

"Combing operations are being conducted regularly and firearms are being recovered on a daily basis," he said.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh added that his government is investigating how the incident (open display of firearms at the unofficial parade) happened 'although they were not part of the official Independence Day parade and were conducting it separately'.

Ethnic clashes broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.