On the last day of the seven arduous days of ultimatum imposed on looted and illegally held arms and ammunition for their voluntary surrender, authorities in Imphal West district in Manipur stepped up security. The initiative comes as a way of bringing peace and stability to the violence-hit northeastern state, where there have been prolonged ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
According to the superintendent of police for Imphal West, citing ‘the prevailing security situation’, the officer ordered senior officers, commando teams, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Assam Rifles and the Army to guard 10 strategic places in the district Wednesday. The warning comes amid continuing tension ahead of the response of armed groups.
Radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol on Tuesday said it will surrender illegal weapons only if its terms and conditions are met. However, the group has not revealed these conditions to the public. After a meeting between the public relations officer of Arambai Tenggol, Robin Mangang Khwairakpam, and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the announcement followed. At the meeting, Bhalla asked all communities to either hand over looted weapons in a week’s time or face action. According to him, there would be no punitive action against those surrendering.
Meitei community also submitted a memorandum to the governor seeking Scheduled Tribe (ST) status under Arambai Tenggol. Protests against a proposed bill granting ST status to the Meiteis prompted the ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023. The group has been accused of attacking Kuki tribals and burning their homes since then.
At the height of the conflict, mobs looted around 6,000 drug weapons from state armories, police stations, and outposts. Some 2,500 such weapons have already been recovered. So far, at least 260 people have been killed, close to 60,000 displaced, and Manipur split in two by the violence.
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