Surrender of Sophisticated Arms in Manipur: Indian Government Cracks Down on Unrest, Brings Hope to the State

Surrender of Weapons in Manipur: A Glimmer of Hope or a Half-Measure?

Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla’s decision to extend the deadline for the surrender of looted and illegal weapons may be a crucial step towards peace, but experts are cautioning that the real test lies in the kind of weapons being surrendered. While the authorities have received a total of 738 weapons in the first week of the amnesty scheme, only a small proportion of these are sophisticated weapons.

According to sources, the majority of the surrendered weapons are single-barrel guns and country-made weapons, with a mere 106 sophisticated weapons handed over. The worrying trend raises questions about the sincerity of the groups involved in the violence in Manipur.

The Manipur government’s efforts to promote peace may have led to the surrender of 246 weapons by Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei militia group, but the overall picture is less rosy. Experts point out that many of the sophisticated weapons are being surrendered by individuals who have run out of ammunition, rather than making a genuine commitment to abandon the use of arms.

"The surrender of 738 weapons in a week is a good beginning. However, we would like to see more sophisticated weapons surrendered and not single-barrel guns and country-made weapons," said a senior home ministry official. "This shows that people are responding to the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, but we need more encouraging results."

The figures are stark. Over 6,000 weapons were looted from police stations and state armouries in May 2023, and despite efforts to recover them, only 2,500 have been retrieved so far. The Home Ministry is equally cautious, with Union Minister Amit Shah asking the security establishment to focus on retrieving all looted weapons first, saying that otherwise, it will be difficult to prevent a fresh wave of violence.

As Manipur Governor N Biren Singh’s office claims that the surrender of weapons was inspired by his appeal, experts are cautious about reading too much into the development. "The surrender of single-barrel guns and country-made weapons, though a positive development, cannot be taken as a sign of groups on either side of the ethnic divide willing to abandon violence," said a Manipur administration official.

The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the success of the amnesty scheme and the likelihood of achieving lasting peace in Manipur. As the state struggles to come to terms with the aftermath of the violence, one thing is clear: the recovery of looted weapons and the willingness to surrender sophisticated arms will be the key indicators of progress.

Key Points:

• 738 weapons have been surrendered in the first week of the amnesty scheme
• 110 of the weapons surrendered are single or double-barrel guns, 30 are country-made weapons, and 106 are sophisticated
• The Manipur government has extended the deadline for surrendering weapons until further notice
• The Home Ministry is keen to see more sophisticated weapons surrendered, not just single-barrel guns and country-made weapons
• The recovery of looted weapons and the willingness to surrender sophisticated arms will be crucial in determining the success of the amnesty scheme.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/surrender-call-groups-retain-sophisticated-arms-in-manipur-9863629/
Category : India
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-03-02 04:45:00