A day after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s stern warning, a man in Kakching district voluntarily returned a cache of looted arms and ammunition, signaling a potential breakthrough in the state’s crackdown on illegal weapons.
BY PC Bureau
Amid opposition by the National People’s Party (NPP) to the government’s disarmament drive, a resident of Kakching district voluntarily surrendered a cache of looted arms and ammunition on Friday, marking the first response to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s seven-day ultimatum for illegally acquired weapons to be returned.
The NPP has strongly criticized the move, arguing that forced disarmament without adequate security measures could leave vulnerable communities defenseless. The party accused the BJP-led central government of imposing an unfair policy under President’s Rule, warning that many civilians had armed themselves out of fear and a lack of trust in the state’s ability to protect them during last year’s ethnic violence.
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A senior police official confirmed that the weapons were handed over to Kakching District Superintendent of Police Thokchom Vikramjit Singh in what authorities hope is the first of many such surrenders.
Weapons Recovered:
- One .303 rifle with a magazine
- Thirteen .303 bullets
- Four bulletproof vests
- Five bulletproof plates
- Four security force helmets
Officials expressed optimism that more stolen arms would be returned in the coming days, as law enforcement agencies intensify search operations across the state.
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Governor’s Warning and Background on Looted Arms
In response to the appeal made by Hon'ble Governor, Manipur on 20.02.2025, urging individuals to surrender illegal arms and ammunition, several weapons and related items were handed over to the authorities as follows –
i) At SP- Kakching, Kakching District:
01(one) no of .303… pic.twitter.com/1s4tk8p9Lw— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) February 22, 2025
The surrender comes in response to a public appeal from Governor Bhalla on Thursday, in which he warned that those in possession of looted arms would face severe legal consequences if they failed to comply.
“The government is deeply concerned about the circulation of weapons looted from state armouries and other sources, as they pose a serious threat to the safety and security of society,” Bhalla stated.
Weapons Recovered by Security Forces in Kakching
Security forces also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Kakching Wairi area, which was later handed over to Kakching Police. The recovered items include:
-
Firearms: One 5.56 mm INSAS rifle, one 5.6 mm caliber rifle, one 12-bore rifle, one 12-bore short gun, one 9 mm pistol, one air pistol, one .303 rifle, four 12-bore single-barrel rifles, one 12-bore water cannon, and one hand grenade.
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Ammunition: 27 rounds of 9 mm live bullets, 92 rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47 live rounds, 40 rounds of 7.62 mm CTN ammunition, 45 rounds of 5.56 mm INSAS live rounds, 13 small KF rounds, 65 rounds of .303 ammunition, 30 rounds of 12-bore live cartridges, and various empty magazines.
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Other Items: Bulletproof jackets, bulletproof plates, Motorola communication sets with adapters, a bayonet, a khukri, a CPU, carry bags, and ₹2.5 lakh in cash.
Since the outbreak of ethnic riots on May 3, 2023, large caches of weapons have been looted from police stations and outposts, exacerbating the security crisis in Manipur. Reports suggest that over 6,000 sophisticated firearms and lacs of rounds of ammunition were stolen during the violence.
The state’s security forces—comprising the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces, and Manipur Police—have since launched regular search operations to recover the stolen arms. However, despite repeated appeals from former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the Manipur Home Department, those in possession of looted weapons had largely refused to comply—until now.
The situation took a new turn when the Union government imposed President’s Rule on February 13, suspending the Manipur Assembly and placing Governor Bhalla in charge of restoring order. Since assuming office on January 3, Bhalla has conducted extensive visits to conflict-hit districts, meeting community leaders, civil society groups, and security officials to assess the ground situation.
On Friday, he met with Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles, at Raj Bhavan, where he was briefed on troop deployments and upcoming security measures to recover more looted weapons.
NPP Opposes Forced Disarmament, Calls for Security Guarantees
Even as the government pushes for complete disarmament, the National People’s Party (NPP) has strongly opposed what it calls an “unfair and reckless” demand for civilians to surrender arms without adequate security guarantees.
In a statement issued on Friday, an NPP spokesperson criticized the government’s strict ultimatum, arguing that many communities in Manipur armed themselves out of fear and lack of trust in state authorities.
“While we understand the government’s concerns about illegal arms, we must acknowledge why people took up arms in the first place. Many villages were left defenceless during the riots. People had to protect their families when the state failed them. Disarming civilians without first ensuring their safety is irresponsible and could lead to more bloodshed,” the spokesperson said.
The NPP also questioned the timing of the arms surrender directive, especially after the imposition of President’s Rule, which the party has openly opposed.
“By sidelining the elected government and imposing President’s Rule, the Centre has ignored local realities. Instead of issuing ultimatums, the government should hold meaningful discussions with community leaders. A blanket disarmament policy will only deepen mistrust,” the statement added.
Despite political opposition, law enforcement agencies remain committed to recovering stolen weapons, with officials hinting at possible search-and-seizure operations if voluntary surrenders do not increase.
“The security situation is still fragile, but we cannot allow looted arms to remain in civilian hands indefinitely. We urge all citizens to cooperate and return these weapons before stricter action is taken,” said a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Observers note that while the surrender in Kakching is a positive step, the success of the government’s disarmament strategy will depend on how it balances security concerns, community fears, and political opposition.
With tensions still simmering in Manipur, the question remains—will more citizens follow suit, or will resistance to forced disarmament deepen divisions further?
