Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam is trying to stop more arrests of Arambai Tengol members. He wants to avoid further crackdowns while the state hunts for illegal weapons. The government hopes people holding guns will hand them over to avoid enforcement action.
Konthoujam spoke at a sports event in Imphal. He discussed the matter with the Director General of Police. The minister noted that intelligence shows civilians and armed groups still hide caches of illegal hardware. De-weaponization remains the top priority to end the state's cycle of violence.
The state has seen protests since the National Investigation Agency grabbed three members of the group last week. Demonstrators are demanding their release. Konthoujam urged locals to keep the valley calm, saying, "efforts are being made to avoid further crackdowns and arrests involving members of Arambai Tengol."
Security forces are trying to open up movement in the hill areas. Violence still flares up in the hills while the valley stays quiet. Officials plan to shift resources to trouble spots once the valley settles down.
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