On Thursday, the final day of the deadline Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla set for surrendering weapons looted from the state’s armouries in the course of the battle, Imphal noticed an uncommon procession – a stream of autos of the unconventional armed group Arambai Tenggol full of weapons of various sizes. The group surrendered 246 weapons on the 1st MR complicated in Imphal West.
This mass give up of weapons by the group got here two days after its members met Governor Bhalla in Raj Bhawan and is the most important such give up of illegally held weapons to date within the strife-torn state.
On February 20, the Governor appealed to individuals of all communities to give up such weapons to their nearest safety institutions inside seven days, stating that no punitive motion could be taken. Nevertheless, he mentioned that “strict motion” could be taken for possessing such weapons after this era ends.
Round 6,000 weapons have been looted from state armouries in the course of the battle, which started in Might 2023. Twenty-one months later, there are nonetheless sporadic makes an attempt to grab weapons from these armouries. In line with the final replace by Safety Advisor Kuldiep Singh in September 2024, 1,200 of the looted weapons had been recovered in operations by safety forces, whereas the remainder proceed to be in circulation.
In line with the quantity cited by the Manipur police, other than the give up of 246 weapons within the 1st MR, one other 61 weapons had been surrendered in different components of the state on Thursday. In line with an Military official, till Thursday afternoon and earlier than the give up of weapons by the Arambai Tenggol, round 110 weapons had been surrendered within the hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl, and Jiribam since February 20 in mixed actions the place the Military was current, and round 40 in related circumstances within the Valley. The official added that there could be different incidents of individuals surrendering weapons on to the police.
“Such voluntary give up of weapons will considerably assist in restoring peace, communal concord and lawfulness within the state. Because the seven-day interval granted for voluntary give up is about to conclude at the moment, all involved people, particularly the youths, are strongly requested to return ahead and give up any looted or illegally held arms… Collectively, allow us to work in the direction of a safer and safer way forward for Manipur,” learn an announcement by the Manipur police on Thursday night.
This name for the return of weapons is the primary main step taken by the Governor after the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the next imposition of President’s Rule within the state. Biren Singh himself had issued appeals for the return of looted weapons a number of occasions, as had Union Residence Minister Amit Shah throughout his go to to the state a month after the violence began in 2023, however that is the primary time that such an attraction has yielded outcomes.
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In the meantime, Kuki-Zo teams ITLF and COTU issued a joint assertion dismissing the mass give up of weapons by Arambai Tenggol, calling it a transfer to “garner sympathy and legitimacy” and condemning the Governor’s assembly with them.
“The submission of 300 looted arms by Arambai Tenggol at the moment is a mere gesture, accounting for less than 5% of the 6,000 looted arms from the Imphal valley. This transfer is a strategic try to enhance their public picture, notably after their assembly with the Governor of Manipur. It’s a tactical transfer to garner sympathy and legitimacy… Arambai Tenggol is accountable for the ethnic cleaning of the Kuki-Zo, which includes the killing of greater than 230 Kuki-Zo, compelled displacement of over 40,000 Kuki-Zo, burning of greater than 7,000 homes and 360 locations of worship… The Governor’s assembly with Arambai Tenggol sends a disturbing message that the state is keen to barter with perpetrators of violence whereas ignoring the cries of their victims. It is a clear betrayal of justice and a direct insult to the survivors of ethnic violence,” reads their assertion.
