2 weeks ago
46 Militants Lay Down Arms at Manipur 'Homecoming' Ceremony
In a place called Manipur, in India, some people who used to fight with guns decided to stop.
They are called militants, and 46 of them gave up their weapons at a special event called a 'Homecoming Ceremony.'
The event was held at a parade ground in Imphal, the capital city, and was organized by the government.
The Chief Minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, welcomed them and said that holding guns had not brought peace.
He had earlier given people 15 days to hand over illegal weapons.
The government promised the former fighters a monthly stipend for three years, a fixed deposit, and job training to help them start new lives.
The weapons surrendered included rifles, pistols, and rocket-propelled grenades.
This is part of a bigger effort to make peace in Manipur after ethnic violence started in May 2023.
That violence has killed at least 260 people and left thousands homeless.
The government hopes more people will choose peace and dialogue instead of fighting.
46 militants, including four women cadres of the proscribed KCP-Taibanganba faction, surrendered before the Manipur government at a 'Homecoming Ceremony' in Imphal.
The cadres laid down 20 arms, including INSAS rifles, RPGs, mortars, pistols and ammunition, and signed an acceptance of surrender agreement.
The surrender followed Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's August 12 announcement of a 15-day deadline to hand over illegal weapons.
Surrendered cadres will receive up to Rs 6,000 per month for 36 months plus a Rs 4 lakh fixed deposit under the Revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, 2018.
The chief minister backed NRC implementation in Manipur but opposed bandhs, while ethnic violence since May 3, 2023 has killed at least 260 people.
- Who
- 46 militants of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) faction, including four women cadres, surrendered before the Manipur state government, with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and DGP Mukesh Singh addressing the ceremony.
- What
- The cadres laid down 20 arms and signed an acceptance of surrender agreement at a 'Homecoming Ceremony' organized by the state Home Department.
- Where
- 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, Imphal, Manipur.
- When
- Tuesday, August 18, following Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's August 12 announcement of a 15-day surrender deadline.
- Why
- To strengthen the peace process in Manipur amid ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that erupted on May 3, 2023, which the chief minister said may have driven some people to take up arms.
Government Position
Protester/Group Perspective
National Register of Citizens (NRC)
Government Position
The government supports the demand for implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur.
Protester/Group Perspective
Groups pressing demands such as the NRC have used bandhs (shutdowns), which the government does not appreciate.
Means of Protest
Government Position
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said bandhs adversely affect school and college students and daily wage earners, and urged other forms of democratic protest.
Protester/Group Perspective
The practice of calling bandhs has been used in Manipur to press grievances such as the NRC demand.
Path to Peace
Government Position
The government says peace will prevail only when people give up arms and resolve grievances through dialogue and democratic means.
Protester/Group Perspective
The chief minister acknowledged that the ethnic violence may have instigated some individuals to take up arms and join insurgent groups.
Key facts
- Number of surrendered cadres
- 46
- Faction
- Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba)
- Arms surrendered
- 20
- Location
- 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, Imphal
- Monthly stipend
- Up to Rs 6,000 for 36 months
- Fixed deposit grant
- Rs 4 lakh per cadre
- Policy basis
- Revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, 2018
- Ethnic violence toll
- At least 260 dead; thousands homeless since May 3, 2023
Quotes
Yumnam Khemchand Singh
Chief Minister of Manipur
“I warmly welcome KCP (Taibanganba) and the group members, who laid down their arms. They understood that arms cannot bring progressive development.”
theprint.in
“The ethnic violence that erupted in the state on May 3, 2023, may have instigated some individuals to pick up arms and join insurgent groups.”
NDTV
Sources
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