Imphal, March 8: More than 1,000 arms along with a substantial amount of ammunition were voluntarily surrendered to security forces in strife-torn Manipur during a two-week amnesty period, a police officer confirmed on Friday. The surrender of looted and illegally held weapons followed an appeal by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, offering a window for individuals to contribute to peace and security.
The final number of surrendered arms is yet to be confirmed, as authorities in Imphal are still collating details from all districts. The surrendered cache includes a mix of looted and illegally procured weapons, including handguns, machine guns, grenades, mortars, and advanced rifles such as the INSAS and AK-56.
Breakdown of Surrendered Weapons
A total of approximately 1,023 arms were surrendered across five valley districts, five hill districts, and Jiribam. Over 760 weapons came from the valley districts, while the remainder were from the hills and Jiribam. The surrendered arsenal included:
- 9mm pistols
- Sub-machine guns (SMGs)
- Colt-machine guns (CMGs)
- Self-loading rifles (SLRs)
- Modified sniper rifles
- INSAS and AK-56 rifles
- Grenades, including Chinese-made ones
- Bulletproof jackets, helmets, radio sets, camouflage uniforms, and locally made mortars (Pompi)
Key Dates and Surrender Figures
The highest number of arms was surrendered on February 27, with 307 weapons handed over, including 246 by Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei group. On March 6, the last day of the amnesty period, 196 weapons were surrendered across at least eight districts.
Governor Bhalla had initially set a seven-day deadline starting February 20, urging warring groups to surrender looted and illegal arms. The deadline was later extended until 4 PM on March 6 following demands from both hill and valley residents for more time. The administration assured that no punitive action would be taken against those who surrendered their weapons voluntarily.
Post-Deadline Security Operations
After the amnesty period ended, security forces launched combing and search operations across Manipur, recovering 36 arms, 129 rounds of ammunition, seven explosives, and 21 miscellaneous items. Additionally, 15 illegal bunkers were destroyed, including twelve in K Langnom and Khengjang areas and three in Haraothel, all located in Kangpokpi district.
Political Situation in Manipur
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The state assembly, which was set to run until 2027, has been placed under suspended animation.
The ethnic violence in the state began on May 3, 2023, leading to the deaths of at least 250 people and the displacement of thousands. Clashes primarily occurred between the Meitei community in the valley and the Kuki community in the hills. However, the Naga-majority districts remained unaffected.
The recent surge in arms surrender has been seen as a significant step towards restoring peace in the troubled region. Authorities remain vigilant as they continue efforts to recover any remaining illegal weapons and maintain law and order.
