Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Forty-six members of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) surrendered to authorities on Tuesday. The event took place at the Mantripukhri Garrison of the Assam Rifles in Imphal East. Laishram Ranjit, the group’s founder chairman, led the group to the homecoming ceremony. They handed over a massive cache of weaponry to officials.
The seized inventory included 28 firearms: AK-series and AK-56 rifles, an INSAS rifle, a Self Loading Rifle, a carbine, .303 rifles, pistols, and both single and double-barrel guns. Militants also surrendered a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, nine RPG shells, 23 hand grenades, 40 electric detonators, 342 rounds of ammunition, and 15 kilograms of improvised explosive devices. Security forces also recovered 300 blasting caps and seven communication devices.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh accepted the surrender. He noted that recovery of illegal weapons remains a top priority. Government forces have pulled in over 8,000 weapons since the May 2023 crisis erupted. Current officials have recovered 1,200 firearms since February 4, including 600 items looted from state armouries. "After the crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023, many youths from both the hills and the valley took up arms. Gun culture cannot ensure peace, development or prosperity. I welcome all those who have chosen to return to the mainstream and contribute towards building a peaceful Manipur," the Chief Minister said.
The KCP-PWG group will now face a new reality. The surrender effectively ends their operational presence in districts like Imphal East, Imphal West, and Kakching. Chairman Laishram Ranjit promised that the group would cease all extortion and illegal detention. He claimed that individuals committing crimes in the group’s name are no longer affiliated with them. He plans to open an industrial unit to provide local jobs.
The government will process the former militants under the 2018 Revised Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East States. Each cadre receives a Rs 4 lakh fixed deposit and a Rs 6,000 monthly stipend. They will spend three years in a designated camp undergoing vocational training.
Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam signaled a shift in strategy. The state is now working to bring Kuki and Naga insurgent groups to the negotiating table. High-ranking officials, including the Security Advisor, the General Officer Commanding of the Spear Corps, and the Director General of Police, attended the ceremony to mark the shift.
Comments