46 KCP militants surrender in Manipur, 20 weapons handed over in Imphal
Synopsis
For the second time in under a month, Manipur has witnessed a formal mass surrender — 46 KCP-Taibanganba cadres, including four women, laid down 20 weapons in Imphal on 18 August. With a rehabilitation package of ₹4 lakh plus monthly stipends attached, the government is betting that policy incentives can succeed where security pressure alone has not.
Key Takeaways
46 militants , including four women , from the proscribed KCP-Taibanganba faction surrendered before the Manipur government on 18 August in Imphal .
20 weapons were handed over, including INSAS rifles, RPGs, mortars, and multiple pistol variants, along with ammunition, grenades, and communication equipment.
The surrender follows a 15-day deadline for illegal weapon surrender issued by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 12 August .
Each surrendered cadre is entitled to a monthly stipend of up to ₹6,000 for 36 months and a fixed deposit grant of ₹4 lakh under the Revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, 2018 .
This is the second such ceremony in weeks — a similar event for 46 KCP (People's War Group) cadres was held on 21 July at Mantripukhri Garrison.
A formal surrender agreement was signed by KCP-T Chairman Haobijam Dilip alias Taibanganba and Joint Secretary (Home) Dr M.
46 militants, including four women cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party-Taibanganba (KCP-T) faction, surrendered before the Manipur state government on Tuesday, 18 August, laying down 20 weapons at a formal ceremony in Imphal. The event marks a significant step in the state's ongoing efforts to restore peace following nearly two years of ethnic conflict.
The Homecoming Ceremony
The 'Homecoming Ceremony' was organised by the Home Department at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal. It followed a public announcement by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 12 August, in which he issued a 15-day deadline for the surrender of illegal weapons as part of a broader peace initiative. An acceptance of surrender agreement was signed between the government and the KCP-T faction — with KCP-T Chairman Haobijam Dilip alias Taibanganba signing on behalf of the group, and Joint Secretary (Home) Dr M. Veto Singh signing for the state government.
What the Government Said
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh acknowledged that the ethnic violence that erupted on 3 May 2023 may have driven some individuals to take up arms and join insurgent groups. He lauded the militants for choosing to surrender, stating that 'holding guns had not brought peace to the state.' He assured those surrendering of full government support in their return to mainstream life.
The surrenders are being processed under the Revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, 2018, which entitles each surrendered cadre to a monthly stipend of up to ₹6,000 for 36 months and a fixed deposit grant of ₹4 lakh. Skill-based training to help the cadres secure sustainable livelihoods will also be provided, the Chief Minister added.
Arms and Ammunition Surrendered
The weapons handed over included INSAS rifles (folding-butt and fixed-butt variants), M22 rifles, RPGs, Lathod 40 mm launchers, Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers, 51 mm mortars, SLRs, Mauser 9 mm pistols, CZ-75 Luger pistols, and .32 pistols. Ammunition surrendered included 5.56 mm, 9 mm, 7.62 mm, and .32 mm cartridges. Explosive items included hand grenades and detonators; communication equipment included Baofeng handheld sets and chargers.
Police Stance and Conditions
Director General of Police Mukesh Singh said the cadres had chosen to return to their families and responsibilities as citizens by giving up armed activities. He affirmed that the Manipur Police would support the legal process of surrender, verification, and rehabilitation for those genuinely renouncing violence, while continuing to perform its constitutional duties with firmness. He cautioned the surrendered cadres to remain fully committed to their decision, noting that the success of the ceremony would be judged not by the event itself but by their future conduct.
Context and What Comes Next
This is the second such ceremony in recent months. A similar 'Homecoming Ceremony' for 46 cadres of the KCP (People's War Group faction) was held on 21 July at Mantripukhri Garrison, Headquarters of the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South), Imphal. The latest ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Art and Culture and Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, several MLAs, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, and senior officers from civil administration, Manipur Police, and central security forces. Notably, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh also reiterated government support for implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, while urging groups to avoid bandhs, which he said adversely affect students and daily wage earners. With rehabilitation support now formally in place, the coming months will test whether the policy can sustain momentum and draw in more armed cadres across the state's fractured ethnic landscape.
Point of View
Complicated by the ongoing ethnic conflict since May 2023, involves far more groups. The ₹4 lakh grant and monthly stipend are meaningful incentives, but their effectiveness depends entirely on the state's ability to deliver skill training and reintegration support at scale — a track record that remains unproven. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh's simultaneous push for NRC implementation, while appealing to a segment of the electorate, risks deepening the identity anxieties that partly fuelled the original conflict.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who surrendered in Manipur on 18 August 2025?
46 militants from the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party-Taibanganba (KCP-T) faction, including four women cadres, surrendered before the Manipur state government on 18 August at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal. They handed over 20 weapons along with ammunition and explosives.
What benefits will the surrendered militants receive?
Under the Revised Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, 2018, each surrendered cadre is entitled to a monthly stipend of up to ₹6,000 for 36 months and a fixed deposit grant of ₹4 lakh. The government has also committed to providing skill-based training to help them secure sustainable livelihoods.
Why did Chief Minister Khemchand Singh issue a 15-day surrender deadline?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced the 15-day deadline on 12 August as part of efforts to strengthen the peace process in Manipur. He cited the ethnic violence that erupted on 3 May 2023 as a factor that had pushed some individuals towards armed groups, and called on them to choose dialogue and democratic means instead.
What weapons were surrendered at the Imphal ceremony?
The 20 weapons handed over included INSAS rifles, M22 rifles, RPGs, Lathod 40 mm launchers, Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers, 51 mm mortars, SLRs, Mauser 9 mm pistols, CZ-75 Luger pistols, and .32 pistols. Cadres also surrendered ammunition in multiple calibres, hand grenades, detonators, and Baofeng communication sets.
Has Manipur seen similar surrender ceremonies before?
Yes. A comparable 'Homecoming Ceremony' for 46 cadres of the KCP (People's War Group faction) was held on 21 July at Mantripukhri Garrison in Imphal, the headquarters of the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South). The 18 August event is the second such formal surrender in under a month.
