At first glance, the ultimatum issued by the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding that the youths in the valley and hills (village defenders) surrender their weapons within a seven-day period effective from February 20, 2025, seems to represent a significant effort to bring peace back to the war-torn state of Manipur.
“People of Manipur, both in the valley and hills, have suffered immense hardship for the last over 20 months due to a series of unfortunate incidents affecting peace and communal harmony. In the greater interest of restoring normalcy, so that people can return to their normal day-to-day activities, all communities in the state must come forward to ensure cessation of hostilities and maintenance of peace and order in the society,” Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said in the statement.
“It is in this regard that I sincerely request the people of all communities, particularly the youths in the valley and hills, to voluntarily come forward and surrender looted and illegally held weapons and ammunition to the nearest police station/outpost/security forces camp within the next seven days, with effect from today. Your single act of returning these weapons can be a powerful gesture towards ensuring peace,” the statement of Governor Ajay Bhalla continued.
“I want to assure you that no punitive action would be initiated if such weapons are returned within the stipulated time. Thereafter, strict action will be taken for possession of such weapons,” Governor Ajay Bhalla intimated.
“The government is committed to ensuring a peaceful resolution of the situation and safeguarding the future of our youth. Let us rebuild our state together with hope and trust for a brighter future. Come forward and choose peace,” Governor Ajay Bhalla told.
However, the greatest flaw of the step taken up by the ambitious and optimistic Governor Ajay Bhalla is that the very fundamental tenet of disarmament is to gain the confidence of the Meitei populace, especially the village defenders, that they are safe and secured from any kind of threats from the Kuki-Zomi militants.
Even after President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, Manipur is still in disarray, demonstrating that administrative adjustments by themselves are insufficient to address the underlying problem.
Though the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, asked the youths in the valley and hills to come forward and surrender the looted and illegally held weapons and ammunition to the nearest police station/outpost/security forces camp within seven days in an effort to restore normalcy and peace, tensions have been exacerbated by security forces’ swift, aggressive, even violent response, which has shown the growing divide between the people and the government. Communities that have already lost faith in the state and central governments have viewed this ultimatum as a direct danger rather than as a source of hope.
Following the arrest of 28 village volunteers who are members of Arambai Tenggol Unit 26 located at Kakching Wairi Panjao Panlum in Kakching district in the morning on February 21 by 46 Assam Rifles within 24 hours of the governor’s ultimatum, massive protests broke out across Manipur’s valley districts.
Demonstrators took to the streets, burning tires and blocking roads in several areas to express their outrage against the security forces’ actions.
Protests were reported in multiple districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Kakching. In Imphal, demonstrators forced the closure of markets and roadside shops in key locations such as Wangkhei, Uripok, Thangmeiband, Kongba, Canchipur, and Khurai.
The situation remains tense, with security forces closely monitoring developments across the valley districts to prevent further escalation. Reports further said that the village volunteers were released later.
In reality, the youths, particularly village defence volunteers, did not choose to acquire guns. They were compelled to enter it as a last resort to protect their lives, properties, and land, filling the security void left by a failing state. The Government failed to protect them when they needed protection the most, leaving them with little option but to take up arms for their survival. The response is now one of defiance rather than acquiescence as the government asks them to surrender without first making sure they are safe and secure. The government under President’s Rule must demonstrate that security forces can and will protect all communities impartially before calling for disarmament. People won’t voluntarily put down their weapons until they feel completely safe.
Meanwhile, twelve women’s organisations in Manipur have strongly condemned the current crackdown on village defenders and threatened to take up the responsibility of defending their own land themselves if the security forces keep raiding and detaining the village defence volunteers. The announcement was made at a press conference in the afternoon on February 21 at the office of the All Manipur Women’s Social Reformation & Development Samaj, also known as Nupi Samaj.
The 12 women organisations are Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL), All Manipur Women’s Social Reformation & Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj), All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup (Tammi-Chingmi), Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup (NLANL), Nongchup Imphal Palem Ima Apunba Nupi Lup (NIMPAL), Apunba Nupi Lup, Lamlangdong (ANUL), Thoubal District United Women’s Development Organisation (Thoubal Ima), Manipuri Chanura Leishem Marup (Mcha Leima), Ereibak Enat Chanura Loinasinlon (EECHAL), Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup (KNKSSL), Khwairamband Phouoibi Ima Keithel Vendors Welfare Union (KPIKVWU) and Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM).
The recent arrests of village volunteers, who the women’s organisations say have been unfairly singled out despite their role in defending their communities and village from Kuki-Zomi militants’ attacks, have caused them deep resentment. Villagers have been forced to take up arms in self-defence as a result of Kuki-Zomi militants’ attacks, land seizures, and threats against indigenous people since the crisis began on May 3, 2023, when the State failed to protect the lives and properties of the villagers.
“The government’s decision to label the village defenders as criminals and order them to surrender their weapons within seven days is completely unjustified,” the women leaders stated.
“The emerging developments are completely unacceptable. How can the government label those who are defending their people as criminals? This is nothing but an attempt to weaken the indigenous population and leave them unprotected,” AMKIL President Nganbi stated.
She directly held both the Manipur government and the Indian government responsible for the rise of village volunteers. “Where was the government when Kuki militants were attacking and grabbing land? The village defenders did not pick up arms by choice. They were left with no other option because the state failed in its duty to protect them,” she asserted.
AMKIL President Nganbi further criticised the Governor’s seven-day deadline for the surrender of weapons, questioning the rationale behind the order. “Does the Governor not understand who started this violence? Does he not see that Kuki militants are still launching attacks? Instead of taking decisive action to resolve the crisis, he is pressuring the victims to surrender their means of protection,” she remarked.
The women leaders pointed out that the ultimatum fails to consider the reality on the ground, where Kuki-Zomi militants continue their attacks and land grabbing to claim the area as exclusive territory. “How can the village defenders surrender their weapons when the threat against them still exists? Disarming them would only make them more vulnerable,” they argued.
The women’s groups stressed that had the Kuki-Zomi militants stopped their aggression and ceased land grabbing, the situation would have been different. However, their continued attacks, coupled with the government’s failure to establish an adequate security arrangement, have left the indigenous communities defenceless.
“The absence of proper security has resulted in the loss of many lives and the destruction of homes and the bulldozing of the villages. The government has failed to protect the people, and now, instead of ensuring their safety, they are punishing those who stood up to defend their families and villages,” the women leaders stated.
The organisations further condemned the security forces for conducting raids and making arrests without addressing the core issue of the crisis. They asserted that the indigenous people will not accept this injustice and will resist any attempt to weaken their defence mechanisms. Instead of criminalising those who are safeguarding their land, the government must focus on resolving the root cause of the conflict through dialogue and appropriate measures, they said.
AMKIL President warned that without ensuring the safety of the people first, any surrender order would be meaningless. “The government cannot expect the people to give up their weapons when there is no guarantee of security. The Governor’s directive is baseless unless immediate steps are taken to safeguard those at risk,” she added.
The women leaders said that they can help the village defence volunteers surrender their arms if the government can guarantee that there will be no more attacks and threats from Kuki-Zomi militants.
Following the horrific violence due to the Kuki-Zomi militants’ attacks against the Meiteis in Churachandpur district, Tengnoupal district’s Moreh, Kangpokpi district, and peripheries of Manipur’s central valley from the surrounding hills that broke out on May 3, 2023, Manipur has been in a state of turmoil for the past 22 months—662 days as of February 22, 2025. The situation is still severe, with at least 260 people dead, more than sixty-one thousand displaced, and entire villages destroyed and bulldozed. Political authorities have failed to provide stability despite the seriousness of the situation, letting tensions fester while communities live in continual terror.
The situation has reached a crisis point, with the State Assembly suspended and President’s Rule now in effect from February 13, 2025. The violent conflict has not been resolved by this action, either. Rather, it runs the risk of escalating tensions further since both sides might take drastic measures to cope with the political unpredictability. The Central Government cannot afford to take a backseat role. Tensions will only increase in the absence of serious discussion, making a peaceful resolution increasingly elusive.
Although stability was anticipated, the imposition of President’s Rule has caused more questions than it has solved. What specific actions is the government doing to heal the rift between the warring groups? What actions have been taken up to earn the trust and confidence of the people? What actions have been taken up to make the people feel safe and secure? What steps have been taken to rehabilitate the displaced people to their homes and villages? What steps have been taken up to ensure free movement of the people irrespective of communities along the National Highways? What steps have been taken up to make Manipur Police, the State Police who can perform its duties anywhere in the entire State? What steps does the administration intend to take to resolve the violent conflict? What security assurances will be given to individuals who surrender their weapons? What steps have been taken up to ensure the lost livelihoods of the displaced peoples? What schemes and economic packages have been made to compensate for the financial and economic loss of the general populace, including small and medium private businesses, due to the violent conflict? These are not jokes but serious questions if peace is really to be built up. The government must understand that establishing peace requires communication, trust, and reconciliation rather than relying just on military might.
In any violent conflict resolution and peacebuilding process, disarmament cannot stand alone; it should involve a holistic approach not only with demobilisation and reintegration processes but also to be contextual considering the ground realities.
Though difficult, the path to peace is essential. Peace is a process. Peace is indivisible. State and central governments alike must put aside political machinations and concentrate on what really counts: repairing communities, re-establishing trust, and making sure Manipur doesn’t continue to be mired in a cycle of violence and hopelessness. With the assertion of the Existence of the State, the Government first must earn trust and confidence of the people, peace cannot be built by force.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
