In a pioneering effort, residents of Keinou village in Bishenpur district collected toy guns from children as well as from shops in the area and set them ablaze at the Keinou High School ground, a statement by the organisers, Keinou Apunba Lup (United Association of Keinou) said.

The idea behind the effort was to save 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, the statement said. Keinous is about 50 km from Imphal.

Children engaged in mock fights with the guns and imitating militants and security forces was not a good sign, the Apunba Lup said.

The statement said villagers wanted a complete ban on sale of toy guns and that they would try to motivate children to take to sporting games.

Hundreds of children in the village also took out a procession in support of their parents torching toy guns. Placards held by them read, "We love football. We hate toy guns. No to toy guns, yes to yubi lakpi (a traditional Manipuri game similar to American rugby)."

The children also had a game of football.