Two Years of Turmoil in Manipur: 11 Firearms Surrendered Amid Crackdown on Illegal Weapons

Manipur: Manipur , battered by nearly two years of ethnic violence and instability, is witnessing a fresh push to recover looted and illegal firearms.  On Monday morning, at least 11 weapons, including an AK-56 rifle, have been surrendered by the public in Manipur’s Thoubal and Imphal East districts, police said. The move comes days after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged people to voluntarily hand over weapons within a week, warning of strict action after the deadline.  

As security forces ramp up efforts to curb armed violence, authorities see the surrender as a step toward restoring peace in a state that has lost over 200 lives to unrest since May 2023.The move comes amid intensified efforts to recover looted and illegal weapons in the violence-hit state.  

According to officials, seven firearms and several explosives were handed over at the Thoubal district SP office on Sunday. The surrendered items included one SMG carbine with a magazine, one tear gas gun, two sniper rifles, one double-barrel gun, one single-barrel gun, a .38mm pistol, two 2-inch mortar shells, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and seven hand grenades.  

Similarly, in Imphal East district, three firearms—including an AK-56 rifle with a magazine, one MAS-series bolt action sniper rifle with a magazine, and one .303 rifle with a magazine—were surrendered at the district SP office. Additionally, two hand grenades and 44 rounds of ammunition were handed over.  

Officials further said that on Saturday, a 9mm carbine A1 was surrendered at Imphal police station.  

Meanwhile, security forces conducting search operations in Langza, Churachandpur district, seized one .303 rifle with a magazine, three country-made single-barrel guns, a high-trajectory modified 81mm mortar (pumpi), three IEDs, ammunition, and three improvised bombs on Sunday.  

Governor’s Appeal for Surrender of Arms  

The fresh round of arms surrender follows an appeal by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on February 20, urging people to voluntarily return looted and illegal weapons within a week. He assured that no punitive action would be taken against those surrendering weapons during this period but warned of ‘strict action’ once the deadline expired.  

"People of Manipur, both in the valley and hills, have suffered immense hardship for over 20 months due to a series of unfortunate incidents affecting peace and communal harmony," Bhalla said in his appeal issued on Thursday.  

Two Years of Turmoil in Manipur  

For nearly two years, Manipur has been torn apart by ethnic violence, political instability, and relentless bloodshed. More than 250 people have been killed, and thousands have been displaced as clashes and unrest have gripped the state. Armed groups and civilians have hoarded looted weapons, further fueling tensions.  

Political Uncertainty Amid President’s Rule  

The call for surrender comes at a time when Manipur is under President’s Rule, imposed on February 13 following the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Singh stepped down after months of ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives since May 2023. With the assembly placed under suspended animation, the political situation in the state remains uncertain.  

Authorities hope that the surrender of arms will help restore peace in Manipur, which has been grappling with instability for nearly two years.