Manipur Home Minister Govindas Kunthujam on Tuesday urged voluntary surrender of all illegal weapons and support the ongoing disarmament drive to avoid arrests.
“There is still information about weapons being kept illegally by various groups in the valley. The government urges all concerned to surrender these weapons voluntarily,” he said at the Olympic Day celebration at Khuman Lambak, Imphal.
He added: “It is important to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the valley so that security forces can effectively focus on search and combing operations in the hilly areas.”
He said additional security personnel, including newly deployed CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), are stationed to track down those involved in the violent activities.
He added that the state government discussed the arrest of three members of the Arambai Tenggul (Miti Group) on Friday on charges of “attacks on security forces, looting of arms and ammunition and bank robbery” – with Director General of Police Mukesh Singh.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested ten people, including three AT members on June 19 in connection with multiple cases, including Punjab National Bank, Ukrul branch robbery case, fifth IRB gun looting case, murder of a Hamar woman in Jiribam, kidnapping and murder of four Kukis, attack on CRPF personnel in Narinsina, and the ambush on former chief minister N Biren’s convoy. Singh.
“Following the arrest of the three AT members, there are no immediate plans for further arrests. However, intelligence regarding the AT members’ possession of weapons is still being verified,” he said.
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But Khoirampand Keithel’s female vendors, known as Emma Keithel, protested and demanded their release.
The protesters alleged that several individuals associated with the AT, who are also involved in market-related activities through the Kangleipak Economic Development Organization (KEDO), were detained despite their contribution to efforts to restore normalcy in the state.
“We know why they carried those weapons,” said vendor Asim Nirmala. “If the state government and the CRPF had fulfilled their responsibilities at that time, why would they have felt compelled to do so?”
She added: “We were witnesses when the weapons were handed over. The government assured that it would bear the responsibility to restore peace. Now, arresting these young men one by one is completely wrong.”
“They acted to protect our lives and property,” she said. “That phase is now over. They should be allowed to live in peace and continue their livelihoods.”
Police armories across the state were looted by civilians and armed groups in both the valley and hill areas during months of the outbreak of ethnic violence in the state in May 2023.
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According to a government report, more than 5,669 weapons and more than 500,000 pieces of ammunition were looted from government armories, police stations and police posts on various occasions.
Earlier, in response to the appeal of Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a total of 307 weapons (246 by Arambai Tangul and 61 by other individuals and village volunteers in valley and hill areas) were handed over in February 2025.
On June 14, the General Directorate of National Security announced that about 70% of the looted weapons had been recovered.
“The police and other security forces will deal very strictly with those who still keep weapons and ammunition illegally. We will take strict action against them in accordance with the law, and they will be arrested at any cost,” he added.
