Arambai Tenggol, a key Meitei group in Manipur, surrendered 246 weapons on the final day of the state's deadline to return illegal arms. This move comes as part of efforts to restore peace in the violence-hit region.
According to officials, a total of 307 weapons were surrendered across Manipur before the deadline expired. Among them, 246 weapons were handed over at the 1st Manipur Rifles campus by Arambai Tenggol, while the remaining 61 were surrendered in different locations across valley and hill districts.
The decision to surrender arms was influenced by key assurances given by Governor Ajay Bhalla.
Arambai Tenggol Commissioner Saikhom Munindro Mangang confirmed that these assurances included action against illegal opium poppy cultivation, implementation of border fencing, the establishment of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year, preventing attacks by Kuki militants, and ensuring the territorial integrity of Manipur.
The group also requested general amnesty for its members, a request that authorities have agreed to consider. Additionally, an agreement was reached allowing unarmed members of Arambai Tenggol to move freely across the state.
Officials have said that this voluntary surrender of illegal arms will help restore law and order while promoting communal harmony in Manipur. The police have urged individuals still in possession of illegal weapons to surrender them at the nearest police station, outpost, or security force camp before the final deadline.
Authorities have assured that those who voluntarily surrender weapons within the deadline will not face punitive action. However, anyone found in possession of illegal arms after the deadline will face strict legal consequences.
The press statement issued by security forces emphasised that this was a final opportunity for individuals to contribute to peace in the state. The statement urged people to surrender their weapons without fear of prosecution and work together for a more secure future.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence for over two years. Clashes between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the hill-based Kuki-Zo groups have led to over 250 deaths and the displacement of thousands since May 2023.
Amid rising tensions, the central government imposed President’s Rule in Manipur on 13 February, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. This decision has placed the state under direct central administration, with the assembly put under suspended animation.
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