Northeast states enforce firearm deposits ahead of Lok Sabha elections

GUWAHATI: District Magistrates across the Northeast states have issued separate directives instructing licensed firearm owners to deposit their weapons at the nearest police stations ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to prevent any potential incidents.

In an official statement, a government representative disclosed, “District Magistrates of the eight Northeast states have issued separate orders directing licensed firearm owners to deposit their arms and ammunition at their nearest police stations by the end of this month. Failure to comply will result in the confiscation of their licensed firearms by the authorities.”

The orders are aimed at maintaining law and order and ensuring the peaceful conduct of the general elections in the Northeast region.

The decision comes in the wake of ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3 last year, during which violent mobs and various groups looted approximately 5000 firearms, including sophisticated weapons, and large quantities of ammunition from armouries of security forces in different districts of the state.

The Manipur government has repeatedly appealed to those who looted the arms and ammunition to return them to the security authorities.

A senior Manipur police official revealed last week that significant progress has been made in recovering the looted arms and ammunition, with ongoing efforts to retrieve more.

Despite these efforts, several militant outfits, both in the valley and hilly areas, continue to possess substantial caches of arms and ammunition and occasionally engage in armed confrontations with security forces.

In the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, a total of 25 seats across eight Northeast states will be contested in the first three phases of the seven-phase 2024 parliamentary elections.

Fifteen seats, including one (Outer Manipur) partly, are scheduled for the first phase on April 19, seven (one partly—Outer Manipur) for the second phase on April 26, and four for the third phase on May 7.

Additionally, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the schedule for assembly elections in two Northeast states—Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, along with two other states—Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

The assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh (60 seats) and Sikkim (32 seats) will be held in the first phase on April 19.