Manipur crisis: Meitei group Arambai Tengol surrenders arms days after Governor's appeal

Visuals of the group surrendering their arms.

Days after Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla asked all communities to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held arms and ammunition, members of ‘Arambai Tengol’, a radical Meitei group in Manipur on Thursday surrendered their arms to the state government. The LG had given a timeframe of seven days as part of efforts to end the protracted ethnic violence in Manipur.

On Tuesday, the group said it would give up illegal weapons only when its terms and conditions are accepted. A delegation of the radical group had also met Bhalla. Visuals that surfaced on social media showed members of the Meitei group in a fleet of pickup trucks carrying arms and ammunition.

Last week, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged people of all communities, particularly the youth, to surrender illegal arms to restore peace in society. The development came a week after President's rule was imposed in strife-torn Manipur, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post.

Urging all communities in the Valley and Hills to voluntarily come forward and surrender looted and illegally held weapons, Ajay Bhalla said that returning these weapons would be a powerful gesture towards ensuring peace.

He also assured that no punitive action would be initiated if such weapons were returned within the stipulated time. “Thereafter, strict action will be taken for possession of such weapons,” said the Governor.