Largest weapon surrender in Manipur as radical Meitei group hands over looted arms

In a significant development in conflict-ridden Manipur, the radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol surrendered 246 looted weapons on Feb 27, marking the largest voluntary return of firearms in the state’s history.

The surrender took place at the 1st Manipur Rifles (MR) complex in Imphal West, coinciding with the last day of the deadline set by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for the return of stolen arms.

The development followed a meeting between Arambai Tenggol representatives and Governor Bhalla at Raj Bhawan earlier in the week. This move is seen as a direct response to the Governor’s appeal on Feb 20, in which he urged all communities to return looted weapons within seven days, promising no punitive action. However, Bhalla warned of “strict action” against those who retained arms beyond the deadline.

Ongoing crisis and looted arms

The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which began in May 2023, has seen large-scale looting of state armories', with an estimated 6,000 weapons falling into the hands of various groups. Security forces have struggled to recover these arms, with Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh reporting in September 2024 that only 1,200 had been retrieved through operations.

On Feb 27, in addition to the 246 weapons surrendered by Arambai Tenggol, Manipur police reported that 61 more firearms were turned in across the state. A senior Army official confirmed that, prior to the group’s mass surrender, around 110 weapons had been returned in the hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, and Jiribam since Feb 20, with another 40 recovered in the Valley.

Manipur police, in a statement, welcomed the move, stating that voluntary surrendering of arms would help restore “peace, communal harmony, and lawfulness in the state.” They urged more individuals, particularly youth, to return any looted or illegally held weapons.

Political shift and response from Kuki-Zo groups

This large-scale return of weapons is the first major step taken under Governor Bhalla’s administration following the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the subsequent imposition of President’s Rule. Singh had previously made multiple appeals for the return of stolen arms, as had Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but this is the first instance of a substantial response.

However, the surrender has been met with skepticism from Kuki-Zo organizations. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) released a joint statement dismissing the move as a calculated effort to “garner sympathy and legitimacy.”

“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 strategic attempt to improve their public image, particularly after their meeting with the Governor of Manipur,” the statement read.

It is a tactical move 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 destruction of 360 places of worship,” it added.

They further criticized Governor Bhalla’s meeting with Arambai Tenggol, arguing that it “sends a disturbing message that the state is willing to negotiate with perpetrators of violence while ignoring the cries of their victims.”

Significant moment

While the surrender marks a significant moment in Manipur’s ongoing crisis, concerns remain over the vast number of arms still unaccounted for. With thousands of looted weapons still in circulation and ethnic tensions persisting, the effectiveness of this initiative in bringing lasting peace to the state remains uncertain.