Even as the Arambai Tenggol and Village Defence Volunteers have “surrendered” their arms and ammunition in compliance with the seven-day ultimatum of Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla issued on February 20, 2025, the Kuki-Zomi militants has launched gun firing against the Meiteis disrupting the lull for about two months.
The gun firing by the Kuki-Zomi militants against the Meiteis while the Governor of Manipur has taken a bold and tough step by serving ultimatum to all the youths (hills and Valley) to “surrender” the looted and illegal arms and ammunition in their possession cannot be considered as an isolatory incident, because Kuki-Zomi groups term the “surrender” of weapons by Arambai Tenggol as attempt to gain sympathy.
Two Manipur-based Kuki-Zomi organisations – Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) – have dismissed the surrender of nearly 300 arms by Meitei group Arambai Tenggol as a “mere gesture” and a “strategic attempt to improve public image” and gain “sympathy and legitimacy.”
In a joint statement, the two organisations asserted that the surrender of 246 looted arms by Arambai Tenggol is merely symbolic, accounting for only 5 per cent of the 6,000 weapons looted from Imphal Valley.
“This move is a calculated effort to enhance their public image, particularly in the wake of their meeting with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. It is a tactical ploy to garner sympathy and legitimacy. The timing of this gesture, following their meeting with the Governor, raises serious questions about their true motivations,” the statement added.
Accusing Arambai Tenggol of being responsible for the deaths of more than 230 Kuki-Zomi community members, the two organisations reiterated their demand for a “Separate Administration” for their people.
On the final day of the seven-day ultimatum issued by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla which concluded on Thursday, February 27, Arambai Tenggol members surrendered 246 arms at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles in Imphal.
According to the statement issued on February 27 evening by Manipur Police Control Room, apart from the surrender of 246 weapons in the 1st MR, another 61 weapons had been surrendered in other parts of the State on Thursday.
According to reports quoting the Indian Army sources, until Thursday afternoon and before the surrender of weapons by the Arambai Tenggol, around 110 weapons had been surrendered in the hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl, and Jiribam since February 20 in combined actions where the Army was present, and around 40 in similar circumstances in the Valley.
It may be mentioned that exact counts of looted weapons and shells was submitted to the Supreme Court of India by the State Government in a sealed envelope last year 2024. However, exact counts of looted weapons and shells are not yet known to the public.
Around 6,000 weapons are believed to have been looted by the mobs from State armouries during the violent conflict, which began on May 3, 2023. Twenty-one months later, there are still sporadic attempts to seize weapons from these armouries.
According to the last update in September 2024, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh had stated that 2,681 weapons, including 1,200 looted from police armouries, had been recovered. Dozens more have been retrieved by both State and Central Forces over the past six months.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren welcomed the surrender of firearms and called it a big step towards peace.
“A big step towards peace! I appreciate the decision of Arambai Tenggol members to hand over weapons today, marking a crucial turning point. By choosing to step away from arms, they have opened the door for meaningful peace process. This move not only eases tensions but also creates space for reconciliation, stability, and long-term progress,” Biren said in a post on X.
“Deeply grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, Hon’ble HM Shri @AmitShah Ji, and the Hon’ble Governor Shri AK Bhalla Ji for their relentless efforts in making this possible. Their leadership has played a key role in guiding this process towards resolution. Let’s move forward together towards a peaceful, united Manipur and a stronger India,” the former CM added.
Moreover, after the “surrender” of weapons in compliance to the ultimatum of the Manipur Governor, the Manipur Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, in his Facebook post, also honoured the brave hearts of the Arambai Tenggol for their courage and love of their motherland.
It may be mentioned that the Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba Leishemba met the Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla recently on February 17 though the details of the meeting is not disclosed yet from both sides.
Before the “surrender” of weapons, the leaders of the Arambai Tenggol met the Governor Ajay Bhalla on February 25 evening and had some understandings with the Governor.
Meanwhile, in a significant development, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday, February 28 extended the deadline for the surrender of looted and illegal arms until 4 pm on March 6, following demands from both valley and hill areas for additional time.
Notably, civil society orgnaisations including a number of women organisations and the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) demanded longer time and other trust building measures.
In an official statement on Friday, February 28, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said, “Upon expiry of the seven-day deadline for voluntary surrender of such arms, there has been demand from both valley and hill areas to extend the period for surrender. I have considered the request and decided to extend the deadline up to 4pm of 06 March 2025 for voluntary surrender of such arms.”
The Governor also said that during this period, no individual who possesses looted or illegal weapons and ammunition will be punished if they surrender them. Bottom of Form
However, if not surrendered, any individual found having such arms and ammunition after the deadline will face strict legal action. The police and security forces will conduct operations after the deadline to identify those who have not given up their weapons.
In his statement, Governor Bhalla called for people to “come forward and choose peace.”
“This is the last opportunity for everyone concerned to contribute to peace, communal harmony, safeguarding the future of our youths, and security of our society. We again request all those, still in possession of such weapons to avail themselves of this final chance to surrender them without any fear of prosecution within the given period,” the Governor emphasised.
However, the Government still fails to earn the trust and confidence of the peoples as the Kuki-Zomi militants started launching attacks against the Meiteis next day after the Arambai Tenggol and Village Defence Volunteers have “surrendered” their weapons before the expiry of Governor’s ultimatum, though suspected persons are said to have been arrested later.
The attack came on the day Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extended the one-week deadline for people from all communities to “surrender” the looted and illegally held weapons till March 6.
According to reports, the suspected militants opened fire at a group of people performing a traditional ritual at Kongba Maru Laipham (Temple) under Sagolmang Police Station, Imphal East, about 22km from the State capital. The incident occurred around 9:45am. They fired multiple rounds from a hilltop in an attempt to disrupt the Nongma Panba ritual, a traditional observance held on the first day of the lunar month Lamta. Despite the gunfire, the local priest and attendees continued the ritual, showing resilience in the face of the threats. The militants were also heard shouting slurs and abusive words, causing panic among the attendees.
A combined team of Manipur Police and the CRPF, led by the Additional SP (Law and Order), was present at the ritual site. Security forces swiftly responded to the attack and launched a search operation in the area. As a result, a joint team of Kangpokpi district Police and the 115 Battalion CRPF, under the supervision of Kangpokpi district SP, arrested four cadres of the KNF-P, an armed militant group under the United People’s Front (UPF).
The arrested individuals have been identified as Lungousem Kipgen (29), son of Seikhohao Kipgen of Phaijol Village, Kangchup, Kangpokpi District; Letminlal Kipgen (25) of Ebenezer Village; Satminlun Tuboi (24), son of Letmang Tuboi; and Thanggoulun Kilong (27), son of Sonkhothang Kilong of Luwangsanggol Village. During interrogation, they admitted to being cadres of KNF (P) and claimed to be operating under the command of Gogou Kipgen alias Jamin, reports added.
A group of locals, outraged by the attack, took to the streets and blocked the road in front of Ishika police outpost. The temporary blockade was a manifestation of the public’s frustration and anger against the incident, which disrupted the peaceful conduct of rituals.
It may be mentioned that the memorandum including 13-points submitted to the Governor of Manipur on February 17 by the representatives of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) that detailed steps the Governor may consider bringing peace to Manipur said, “It is evident that in the ongoing law and order crisis in Manipur, the Meitei group has no specific agenda or objective in engaging with this conflict. Rather, the crisis appears to be driven by those pursuing the demand for a separate administration.”
Nevertheless, the Government still fails to earn the trust and confidence of the peoples as the Kuki-Zomi militants started launching attacks against the Meiteis. The Government has to stop the Kuki-Zomi militants’ attacks against Meiteis and dominate the areas as confidence building measures.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
