Manipur CM: Ethnic violence since May 2023 spawned dangerous gun culture
Synopsis
Two years after Manipur's ethnic violence shattered communal harmony, 46 KCP-PWG militants have surrendered a weapons cache — including RPG launchers and IEDs — at Imphal's Mantripukhri Garrison. With over 8,000 weapons recovered since the conflict began, Chief Minister Singh's warning about a state-wide gun culture underscores just how deeply armed the crisis has left Manipur's communities.
Key Takeaways
46 KCP-PWG cadres surrendered arms at the Mantripukhri Garrison , Imphal East , on 21 July .
More than 8,000 weapons have been recovered by security forces since the 3 May 2023 ethnic violence.
Since the present government took office on 4 February , over 1,200 firearms have been seized, including ~ 600 looted from government armouries .
Surrendered militants will receive a monthly stipend of up to ₹6,000 for three years and a ₹4 lakh rehabilitation grant under the 2018 scheme.
Security forces evacuated more than 47,000 displaced persons from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities during the May 2023 crisis.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, 21 July warned that the ethnic violence that erupted on 3 May 2023 had given rise to an alarming gun culture in the state, posing a serious threat to peace and normalcy. Speaking at a 'Homecoming Ceremony' at the Mantripukhri Garrison — headquarters of Assam Rifles (South) in Imphal East district — the Chief Minister underlined that Manipur had previously enjoyed communal harmony, with communities coexisting peacefully across both the valley and hill regions.
46 KCP-PWG Militants Surrender, Lay Down Arms
Forty-six cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party-People's War Group (KCP-PWG) rejoined the mainstream by surrendering a substantial cache of weapons at the ceremony. The arsenal handed over included three AK series rifles, four AK-56 series rifles, one INSAS ex-Calibur, one Self Loading Rifle (SLR), one 9 mm Carbine, three .303 rifles, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher, two 9 mm pistols, one 7.65 mm pistol, two double-barrel and nine single-barrel rifles. Militants also deposited 16 magazines, nine RPG shells, 23 hand grenades, 40 electric detonators, seven IEDs weighing approximately 15 kg, seven communication devices, and 342 rounds of ammunition.
Over 8,000 Weapons Recovered Since the Conflict Began
Chief Minister Singh stated that sustained operations by Central and state security forces have resulted in the recovery of more than 8,000 weapons since the ethnic hostilities began. He added that since the present government assumed office on 4 February this year, over 1,200 firearms have been seized — including approximately 600 weapons that were looted from government armouries during the violence. Singh praised citizens who voluntarily surrendered arms, describing them as individuals committed to restoring normalcy.
Rehabilitation Package for Surrendered Cadres
Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh detailed the benefits available under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North Eastern States, 2018. Surrendered cadres will receive a monthly stipend of up to ₹6,000 for three years and a rehabilitation grant of ₹4 lakh as a fixed deposit. The Chief Minister assured KCP-PWG Chairman L. Ranjit of all possible support under the scheme.
Security Forces Lauded; 47,000 Displaced Evacuated in 2023
Singh commended the coordinated efforts of the Army, Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF, and Manipur Police in maintaining order and protecting civilians. He noted that during the peak of the crisis in May 2023, security forces safely evacuated and sheltered more than 47,000 displaced persons from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in relief camps and secure locations.
Senior Officials Back the Peace Drive
Director General of Police Mukesh Singh said the ceremony reflected growing confidence among misguided youth in the peace process and expressed hope it would serve as a model for other insurgency-affected states. Lieutenant General Girish Kalia, General Officer Commanding 3-Corps, remarked that no society can progress under the shadow of conflict and voiced confidence that surrender and rehabilitation initiatives would strengthen stability and development in Manipur. Art and Culture Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, several MLAs, the Chief Secretary, and senior officers of the Army, Assam Rifles, state Police, and Central Armed Police Forces also attended the event.
With militants choosing the path of peace and security forces continuing recovery operations, the coming months will test whether Manipur's rehabilitation framework can translate ceremony-day momentum into durable, ground-level normalcy.
Point of View
But the Chief Minister's own figures tell a more sobering story: over 8,000 weapons recovered and still counting, with roughly 600 looted from government armouries still unaccounted for in the broader tally. Manipur's gun culture is not an organic insurgent problem — it was partly created by the state's own security failure in May 2023. The ₹6,000 monthly stipend under the 2018 rehabilitation scheme is modest incentive for cadres who have spent years in armed outfits; whether it holds them in the mainstream depends on whether the underlying ethnic grievances are addressed, a question Tuesday's ceremony left entirely unanswered.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Manipur 'Homecoming Ceremony' on 21 July?
Forty-six cadres of the proscribed KCP-PWG militant outfit surrendered and rejoined the mainstream at the Mantripukhri Garrison in Imphal East on 21 July. They handed over a large cache of weapons including AK series rifles, an RPG launcher, hand grenades, IEDs, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
How many weapons have been recovered in Manipur since the 2023 ethnic violence?
According to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, security forces have recovered more than 8,000 weapons since the ethnic violence erupted on 3 May 2023. Since the present government took office on 4 February this year, over 1,200 firearms have been seized, including around 600 looted from government armouries.
What rehabilitation benefits will surrendered KCP-PWG militants receive?
Under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North Eastern States, 2018, surrendered cadres will receive a monthly stipend of up to ₹6,000 for three years and a one-time rehabilitation grant of ₹4 lakh as a fixed deposit.
What is the KCP-PWG and why was it proscribed?
The Kangleipak Communist Party-People's War Group (KCP-PWG) is a banned militant outfit operating in Manipur. It is among several insurgent groups that have been proscribed by the government due to their involvement in armed activities in the state.
How many people were displaced during the Manipur ethnic violence of May 2023?
According to Chief Minister Singh, more than 47,000 people from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities were displaced during the crisis that began in May 2023. Security forces evacuated and sheltered them in relief camps and other secure locations.
