Villagers hold a bonfire of toy guns in north-eastern India

ManipurNew Delhi - Children and their parents in a village in India's militancy-ridden north-eastern Manipur state burned hundreds of toy guns on Thursday in a symbolic show of saying "no" to violence, news reports said.

Residents of Keinou village in Manipur's Bishnupur district, about 50 kilometres south of the state capital Imphal, organized the event at a local playground, IANS and PTI news agencies reported.

Manipur, bordering Myanmar, has seen militant insurgency for over two decades with at least 19 rebel groups fighting for demands ranging from an independent homeland to autonomy. More than 10,000 people have lost their lives in militancy-related violence since the 1980s.

Hundreds of toy guns, including look-alike AK-47 and M-16 rifles and 9mm pistols, were collected from children and toy shop owners and set ablaze at the Keinou High School ground, a statement by the organizers of the event, Keinou Apunba Lup (United Association of Keinou), said.

"Children in Manipur hear about militants and security personnel armed with AK-47s and rifles fighting each other almost daily. The burning of toy guns was meant to change the minds of children who play with such violent toys," Amarjit Yumnam, one of the organizers of the event said.

"Words like ambush, operations and war were often heard while children played with their guns," said Sharat Singh, a schoolteacher was quoted as saying.

Bimala Devi, mother of two teenaged sons said she was sure that the children would now turn more to healthier games like football.

Hundreds of children in the village took part in a procession in support of the toy gun bonfire. They carried placards saying: We hate toy guns. No to toy guns, yes to yubi lakpi (a traditional Manipuri game). (dpa)

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