WE SURRENDER! Meitei Group Gives up 246 Firearms in Manipur

In a significant step toward de-escalating tensions in violence-torn Manipur, the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol surrendered 246 firearms to security forces on Thursday, hours before a deadline set by Governor Ajay Bhalla expired. The handover, part of a broader surrender of 307 weapons across the state, included 61 additional firearms relinquished by Meitei and Kuki volunteers in both the Imphal Valley and hill districts, according to a police statement.

The move follows assurances from Governor Bhalla, outlined after a February 25 meeting with Arambai Tenggol representatives. Saikhom Munindro Mangang, a leader of the group, cited commitments to eradicate illegal opium poppy cultivation, secure the state’s borders with fencing, implement the National Register of Citizens using 1951 as a baseline, prevent further Kuki militant attacks, and preserve Manipur’s territorial integrity. The group also secured preliminary agreement for amnesty considerations and unrestricted movement for its unarmed members.

Manipur has been gripped by ethnic strife between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, claiming over 250 lives and displacing thousands. The conflict prompted the imposition of President’s rule on February 13, following Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, with the state assembly placed in suspended animation until 2027. On February 20, Bhalla had urged all factions to voluntarily surrender looted and illegal arms within seven days, promising no legal repercussions—a deadline reinforced by Chief Secretary P. K. Singh’s warning of enforcement action.

Police officials hailed the surrenders as a potential turning point for restoring peace and the rule of law, urging those still holding weapons to comply. While the gesture offers hope, the path to stability remains uncertain in a state scarred by nearly two years of unrest.