Villagers burn toy guns in a farewell to arms

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Imphal, May 22 : In a unique effort to wean away the children in insurgency-hit Manipur from firearms, residents of a village in interior Bishenpur district today consigned toy guns to flames.

People of Keinour village collected toy guns from children and shops in the area and set them ablaze at the Keinour High School ground. They said they would inspire the children to take up other games like football.

The idea behind it was to stop the children from imitating combat fighters while playing with toy guns as it could colour their minds and motivate them to engage in criminal activities, a statement by the organisers, Keinour Apunba Lup (United Association of Keinou) said.

Children engage in mock fights with the guns, imitating the militants and security forces, which was not a good sign, the Apunba Lup said. The statement said villagers wanted a complete ban on selling of toy guns and would attempt to motivate the children to choose other games. Hundreds of children in the village took out a procession in support of their parents.

Placards held by them read, ‘We love football. We hate toy guns. No to toy guns, yes to yubi lakpi’ .