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Arms and modern life

The entire world is facing a tough time dealing with the onslaught of terror that arms have wrecked upon us. Whether it is the arms of a terrorist, a soldier, a miscreant or a school kid arms seem to have taken control over man. The world wars, the cold wars or the war on terror, man has become a slave to his arms. The war on Iraq saw the dependence on arms, the terror attacks in America, Britain or India and the disturbed scool kids in America who opened fire upon his own school mates had the common instrument in the form of sophisticated weapons that were used to annihilate the peace and sanctity of man.

Assam is no exception to this world phenomenon as it has been trying to come to terms with the roars of guns and canons that has become a fixture in its daily life. The parasitic and active rebel organizations that afflicts the entire northeast has made arms smuggling a common occurrence. Added with the advantage of porous border areas and lack of proper security personnel the smugglers of arms and ammunition are having a field day. Particularly the states of Mizoram and Manipur which border Myanmar have emerged as the prime rendezvous points for smugglers. Such activities have not gone totally unnoticed as many a time security personnel have prevented the smugglers in their ulterior motives and conducted raids. In fact official records say that Mizoram police have so far made 18 big seizures while in Manipur they were able to make seven seizures only.

The arms and ammunitions are smuggled across from Myanmar and then distributed in the areas where the demand is more. Arms like pistols, 315 rifles and AK series weapons are mostly the main products of these smugglers the consumers of which are mostly the rebel organizations and people involved in drug trafficking.
Many Myanmarese and Burmese nationals have been apprehended by the police in these connections. It has been alleged that many of these arms and ammunitions are brought from Tamu,
Mandalay and Yairipok areas of Myanmar with the support of some local people and then transported to other areas. The Ukhrul and Churachanapur districts of Manipur have become focal points of such arms smuggling. The hilly terrain has given a great advantage to the people in this business.

Tightly patrolled border and a better equipped security force added with the active participation by locals in order to repel such unscrupulous activities can control the arms supply in the states which can directly result in the restoration of a semblance of peace in the states. The intricate relation of arms and man has to be severed in order to let man say a firm farewell to arms for good

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Rituparna Goswami Pande's picture

Journalist, writer

Comments

jaay's picture

How about the politicians and their so called supporters wielding guns openly and celebrating? What message goes to the society and people? As you know we are the nation of competitors and love to imitate what seems exciting and UNLAWFUL so given a chance WHY NOT? As I was reading your article, I could sense that there was message much it did not get clear. Put more thoughts while you are writing and help us become more responsible. Law and border are the responsibility of government, what about the society? Do we really need to exercise the option of buying and keep illegal weapons? Needs introspection…. Keep writing, it’s a daring editorial.

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