Manipur’s Meitei Group Firearm Surrender: Imphal — In a significant development, the radical armed group Arambai Tenggol has surrendered 246 firearms on the last day of the deadline set by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, signaling a possible shift towards peace in the violence-stricken state. The guns, of varying sizes, were handed over at the 1st Manipur Rifles (MR) complex in Imphal West, marking the largest such surrender of illegally held weapons since the conflict began in May 2023.
The weapons surrender comes just two days after the group’s members met Governor Bhalla at the Raj Bhawan in Imphal, a meeting that paved the way for this action. Governor Bhalla had issued a call to action on February 20, urging individuals to return any looted weapons within seven days, assuring them that no punitive measures would be taken. He had also warned that “strict action” would be taken for those found in possession of such arms after the deadline.
In total, around 6,000 weapons were looted from state armouries during the unrest. As of now, about 1,200 of these weapons have been recovered, according to Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, with the remainder still circulating within various groups and communities. The Manipur police reported that, in addition to the 246 weapons surrendered at the 1st MR, another 61 were voluntarily returned from other areas of the state on Thursday, bringing the total surrender count for the day to 307.
By Thursday afternoon, reports indicated that approximately 110 firearms had been surrendered in the hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, and Jiribam, under combined actions involving the Army. Around 40 firearms were surrendered in similar operations in the Valley. This mass surrender is seen as a hopeful sign of peace efforts bearing fruit.
A statement issued by the Manipur police emphasized the significance of these voluntary surrenders, highlighting their potential in restoring peace, communal harmony, and lawfulness in the state. “As the seven-day period granted for voluntary surrender is set to conclude today, all concerned individuals, especially the youths, are strongly requested to come forward and surrender any looted or illegally held arms… Together, let us work towards a safer and more secure future of Manipur,” the statement read.
The appeal marks the first major initiative by Governor Bhalla after the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the subsequent imposition of President’s Rule in the state. Though previous appeals from Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had gone unanswered, this move has seen a tangible result with the surrender of hundreds of weapons.
However, the response to the surrender has been mixed. Kuki-Zo groups, particularly the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and Coordinating Organization for Tribal Unity (COTU), have sharply criticized the mass surrender. In a joint statement, the groups dismissed the act as a mere “gesture” to garner sympathy and legitimacy, accusing Arambai Tenggol of trying to rehabilitate its image after a meeting with the Governor. They claim that the surrender, accounting for just 5% of the looted weapons, is part of a “strategic attempt” by Arambai Tenggol to improve its public image following accusations of perpetrating ethnic violence.
“The submission of 300 looted arms by Arambai Tenggol today is a mere gesture, accounting for only 5% of the 6,000 looted arms from the Imphal valley. This move is a tactical attempt to garner sympathy and legitimacy… Arambai Tenggol is responsible for the ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo, which involves the killing of more than 230 Kuki-Zo, forced displacement of over 40,000 Kuki-Zo, burning of more than 7,000 houses and 360 places of worship,” the statement reads.
The Kuki-Zo groups also condemned the Governor’s meeting with Arambai Tenggol, accusing him of sending a “disturbing message” that the state is willing to negotiate with alleged perpetrators of violence while ignoring the suffering of their victims. “This is a clear betrayal of justice and a direct insult to the survivors of ethnic violence,” they added.
The calls for peace and reconciliation continue as Manipur, deeply scarred by violence, navigates a challenging path toward healing. With more weapons potentially being surrendered in the coming days, the people of the state will be watching closely to see if this moment can indeed pave the way for long-lasting peace and stability.