“The extension of the arms surrender deadline in Manipur comes amid intense scrutiny. With over 6,000 weapons looted since May 2023, the recovery efforts remain far from complete. Questions swirl around the true nature of surrendered arms, especially after the Arambai Tenggol’s partial return, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the government’s strategy in restoring stability.”
BY PC Bureau
Despite a largely “dismal response” to the Manipur Governor’s call for the surrender of illegal weapons, with most sophisticated firearms remaining unreturned, the government has characterized the situation differently. Terming the response “encouraging” from various groups, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extended the deadline for illegal arms surrender to March 6.
This decision aligns with demands from Manipur civil society groups, including COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity), an umbrella organization of Meitei civil society organizations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to chair a review meeting with the Governor and state officials on Saturday. This meeting, the first since the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur, precedes the parliamentary ratification of the rule, expected during the second half of the Budget Session starting March 10.
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Since the eruption of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, Manipur has faced a critical challenge: the recovery of over 6,000 firearms and substantial ammunition looted from police stations and armories. In an effort to address this, Governor Bhalla issued a seven-day ultimatum, concluding on February 27, 2025, for the voluntary surrender of these weapons.
Weapon Surrender Statistics and Disparities
Despite the government’s “encouraging response” claim, reports indicate that the response to the Governor’s call was far from adequate. Militant outfits notably did not surrender the sophisticated weapons looted from police stations.
As per Manipur Police, a significant portion of the surrendered weapons came from the Meitei outfit, Arambai Tenggol, which surrendered 246 weapons on February 27th at the 1st Manipur Rifles complex in Imphal West.
Prior to this, from February 21st to 26th, approximately 300 weapons were surrendered across various districts, including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, and Jiribam (hill districts), as well as Imphal Valley. Over 100 weapons were surrendered in the hill districts, and roughly 50 in the Imphal Valley. This clearly showing the disproportionate amount of weapon returns from the meitei dominant areas.
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Arambai Tenggol’s Surrender: Scrutiny and Speculation
The Arambai Tenggol’s surrender, while the largest single event, was met with skepticism. The surrendered weapons included a visible number of single-barrel rifles. Social media posts, particularly from Kuki-Zo advocates, alleged that the group surrendered “license guns” or less lethal firearms, rather than the military-grade weapons they were known to possess.
This skepticism is rooted in Arambai Tenggol’s history of looting sophisticated weaponry. Notably:
- May 4, 2023, Pangei Training Centre Raid: Resulted in the theft of 175 INSAS rifles, 98 Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), and AK-47s.
- August 3, 2023, 2nd IRB Bishnupur Attack: Yielded AK rifles, Ghatak rifles, and INSAS Light Machine Guns (LMGs).
While it’s possible some of these sophisticated weapons were included in the 246 surrendered, no official breakdown has been provided. An anonymous senior police official had anticipated the group would return “over 200 arms” with “thousands of pieces of ammunition,” suggesting a mix of calibers.
The timing of the surrender, following a meeting with the Governor where Arambai Tenggol sought assurances against civilian attacks, led to speculation that it was a strategic move to appease authorities while retaining more powerful weapons. The lack of a detailed inventory of the returned weapons further fueled this suspicion.
Broader Arms Recovery and Confidence-Building Measures
The broader arms surrender, while a positive step, represents only a fraction of the weapons looted. The government is considering further confidence-building measures, including providing escorts for convoys between Imphal Valley and the hill districts, and addressing security concerns at Imphal Airport for Kuki travelers.
The Home Minister’s review meeting is expected to focus on restoring law and order, border fencing, and facilitating dialogue between the warring communities. The relative calm in recent months has given the Centre confidence that a conducive atmosphere for talks can be created under President’s rule. Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials and Advisor North East, AK Mishra, are expected to participate in the review.
