National

Manipur: More than 300 Illegal Weapons Handed Over in Response to Governor’s Appeal

Published

1 year ago

February 28, 2025

A total of 307 illegally held weapons were voluntarily surrendered by various groups, including youth volunteers, community leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and women’s groups, on Thursday. This significant act of surrender comes in response to a seven-day deadline set by the Governor of Manipur, urging those in possession of looted or illegal firearms to submit them to authorities.According to official reports, 246 weapons were relinquished at the 1st Manipur Rifles Campus, while an additional 61 were surrendered at various sites across both valley and hill districts.

This initiative is viewed as a vital step towards alleviating tensions and promoting communal harmony in a state that has faced ongoing ethnic violence and unrest for several months. Manipur has endured severe ethnic clashes since May 2023, sparked by conflicts between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. These clashes resulted in armed mobs raiding police armories and security facilities, leading to a dramatic rise in the number of illegal firearms in circulation.

In light of the escalating insecurity, the Manipur government and security forces initiated a series of operations to recover the stolen arms. However, many armed groups and individuals resisted, further inflating tensions. The Governor’s recent call for the surrender of illegal weapons is seen as a critical effort to avert additional violence and lay the groundwork for reconciliation.

Authorities have praised the mass surrender, highlighting that the voluntary return of arms will help mitigate further violence and foster a more stable environment. Local community leaders, CSOs, and women’s organizations have played a pivotal role in motivating individuals to give up their weapons in the name of peace.

As the deadline for voluntary surrender approaches, the state government has made it clear: no punitive measures will be taken against those who comply within the timeframe, but strict legal actions will follow for those who remain in possession of illegal firearms.

“This is a final and essential opportunity for everyone to help foster peace, protect our youth’s future, and ensure the safety of our community. We urge anyone still holding weapons to surrender them without fear of prosecution,” an official statement emphasized.

Security forces, working alongside local organizations, are committed to facilitating a peaceful transition. Authorities are optimistic that with continued support from civil society and citizens, Manipur can achieve lasting peace, security, and communal harmony.

Related Topics:government Manipur weapons

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National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.