'Weapon drop boxes' put in Manipur as guns looted during unrest cause concern during polls
Imphal/Churachandpur (PTI): "Please drop your snatched weapons here" reads the poster on a drop box placed on a road from Imphal and Churachandpur in Manipur.
In violence-hit Manipur, the general buzz associated with elections and the related paraphernalia of posters, banners and rallies are missing but it is the presence of these brown boxes with pictures of guns that is symbolic of the strife-ridden society struggling to return to normalcy.
The drop boxes are put at various places with messages asking people to return the weapons snatched from security forces by mobs during the unrest.
According to sources, over 4,200 weapons looted from the armouries in the violence-hit state continue to be untraceable.
Calls to surrender the weapons and putting up drop boxes at several locations across the state, besides security forces launching various combing operations to recover the arms, are among the efforts made during the past 11 months after ethnic clashes rocked the northeastern state.
With only 1,800 weapons of the around 6,000 looted weapons surrendered by the warring communities, officials and experts say this is a matter of concern especially ahead of the elections as they also warn of a resurgence of banned terror groups in the state.
"Over 6000 weapons were snatched from the armouries including .303 rifles, Medium Machine Guns (MMG) and AK assault rifles, carbines, Insas Light Machine Guns (LMG), Insas rifles, M-16 and MP5 rifles... out of these over 1800 have been recovered so far," a source said.
A drop box for returning weapons snatched from security forces was also set up at the home of a BJP legislator from Imphal East.
The "weapon drop box" poster said, "Please drop your snatched weapons here" both in English and Meitei language with the tagline "Feel free to do so" giving an indication that questions will not be asked about how the weapons were in their possession.
When a PTI reporter visited both Imphal Valley and Churachandpur district, similar drop boxes were spotted at three other locations. A few of them had guns, while the rest were empty. Some people calling themselves "village volunteers" were also spotted at different locations with arms.
District Magistrates across northeastern states have issued orders for licensed firearm holders to deposit their arms at nearby police stations before the elections.
These directives aim to uphold law and order and ensure peaceful election proceedings, particularly in light of past incidents of ethnic violence and arms looting in Manipur.
"Some weapons were recovered from the drop box and some licensed arms have been surrendered too ahead of the elections but the number of such arms is very minuscule," another source said.
"There are not just looted arms or sophisticated weapons but also country-made weapons, some of them are believed to have been smuggled into the state..this is a matter of concern especially ahead of the elections as there is also an anti-poll sentiment among several groups," the source said.
The concerns come amid fresh incidents of violence in the state. While two persons were killed in a gunfight that broke out between two armed groups in Imphal East district on Saturday, three persons were injured in a gunfight between armed village volunteers and unidentified gunmen in Tengnoupal district on Friday.
According to officials familiar with the development, the United National Liberation Front (P), a banned terror group, has failed to surrender weapons or provide a list of its members despite signing a ceasefire agreement with the Centre over four months ago, raising concerns among security agencies that its cadres were still carrying out violence in the state.
"Even after three rounds of talks with state authorities, the UNLF, the first Meitei terror outfit to agree to a ceasefire, has not complied with the agreed terms since the agreement was inked on November 29 last," an official said, on the condition of anonymity.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a civil society group of Kuki-Zo tribe, had last month urged its "village volunteers", not to adhere to directives mandating the surrender of licensed firearms ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"We need every available weapon to defend our 'right to life' and our land from the nefarious intent of the majority Meitei community, which is hell-bent on killing and driving us out of our homes," the ITLF had said in a statement.
The hill state has witnessed sporadic, sometimes intense, ethnic clashes since May 3 last year between the majority Meitei community and the Kukis, resulting in the loss of over 200 lives. While Meiteis are now concentrated in Imphal city, the Kukis have moved to the hills.
The elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. While Inner Manipur and some segments of Outer Manipur will vote in the first phase on April 19, the remaining segments of Outer Manipur will vote in Phase 2 on April 26.
The state has traditionally seen a high voter turnout, with more than 82 per cent polling recorded in the 2019 general elections.
However, ethnic violence has cast a shadow on the polls this time, with several civil society groups and affected people questioning its relevance under the current circumstances. There have also been calls from some quarters for boycotting the polls.
Posters of political parties, mega rallies and visible movement of leaders - the traditional elements of campaigning - are conspicuously missing in the strife-torn state.
The only visible hint of elections is the hoardings put up by local election authorities, urging citizens to exercise their franchise.
A radical Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol, which recently compelled legislators to take an oath at Kangla Fort, has issued directives against campaign activities like the use of banners and flags
There is a subdued campaigning atmosphere, with party workers citing the state's sombre mood post-violence.
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Karnataka power tussle: BJP leader calls Siddaramaiah 'Sultan for 15 days'
Bengaluru/Bagalkot (PTI): In the midst of the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, senior BJP leader and MP Govind Karjol called CM Siddaramaiah "Pandrah din-ka-Sultan" (Sultan for 15 days), and said after that, he will not be the chief minister of the state.
Speculation has once again surfaced within the Congress party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for Assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, are announced.
"With the fight for the CM chair in the Congress, there seems to be no administration at Vidhana Soudha. The result for Siddaramaiah's CM chair fight will also be declared, along with election results for five states (four states and one union territory) and bypoll results for Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly seats in Karnataka," Karjol, a former Deputy CM, said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "As per today's information, Siddaramaiah is a Sardar for fifteen days, he is Pandrah din-ka-Sultan, after that Siddaramaiah will not be the chief minister of the state."
Stating that Shivakumar is ready to take up the top job, the MP said that this is the reason Siddaramaiah's supporters have gone to New Delhi to meet the Congress President.
"Already 40-odd legislators have lobbied in support of Siddaramaiah; about 50 are lobbying in support of Shivakumar. Amid this fight for the CM chair, the administration has completely collapsed," he said, urging the government to focus on addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer by releasing at least Rs 50 crore per district.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary (in charge of Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi and requested them to address the speculation regarding the change of leadership in Karnataka.
Subsequently, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa too met the party leadership in Delhi.
Both Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
While MLAs and leaders who want Shivakumar to be elevated as CM have recently claimed they expect some "sweet news" by May 15, which is their leader's birthday.
Meanwhile, a team of 40 MLAs is preparing to visit New Delhi to press the Congress high command for a Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka hit out at the Congress leadership for indulging in "power tussle" instead of addressing the people's concerns. He called the government "anti-people" and "dead" to the people of the state.
With the fight for the CM chair, the ruling Congress in Karnataka seems to be shifting to Delhi. Congress MLAs are repeatedly touring Delhi, upset over the state leadership amid a power struggle between the CM and Deputy CM. This proves that there is no value for the state leadership," he said.
Pointing out that the Deputy CM Shivakumar was not present at the recent special cabinet meeting, which decided on internal reservation among SCs, the opposition leader said, "If the cabinet meeting was held purposely, despite knowing that Shivakumar was in Delhi, it proves that there are factions within the party"
"This government is dead in a way," he said, as he hit out at the Congress MLAs and Ministers, including Shivakumar, for doing "Delhi Yatras" instead of addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer, picking up in the state.
