Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday, 12 August issued a firm ultimatum to all those holding illegal weapons across both the hill and valley regions of the state — surrender within 15 days or face action under the law. The warning came at a public display of recovered arms, ammunition, and explosives at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal, underscoring the government's push to restore normalcy after more than two years of ethnic conflict.

The Surrender Appeal and How It Works

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh urged individuals possessing illegal arms to hand them over through their respective MLAs or the District Superintendent of Police. He made clear that those who fail to comply within the stipulated period will face legal consequences. The appeal covers all communities across both the hill and valley regions, reflecting the state-wide scale of the arms problem.

Notably, this is not the first such appeal. Recovery efforts were first launched on 31 May 2023, when then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh called on all concerned to surrender firearms. The campaign gained fresh momentum after Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla issued a separate appeal urging voluntary surrender of illegally held weapons and ammunition.

Scale of the Arms Crisis

The magnitude of the challenge is stark. Official reports indicate that during the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on 3 May 2023, more than 6,000 sophisticated weapons of various categories and several lakh rounds of ammunition were looted from police stations, outposts, and security force armouries by mobs, armed attackers, and militants.

Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh recently stated that approximately 70 per cent of the looted weapons have been recovered so far. Between February and August 2026, security forces recovered 1,422 firearms, over 7,000 rounds of ammunition, and 1,137 explosives. A total of 491 extremists belonging to various outfits have also been arrested during this period.

Government's Peace Outreach Efforts

The Chief Minister noted that since the new government assumed office on 4 February 2026, peace outreach initiatives have been undertaken across various districts. He recalled his visit to Jiribam district, where he met representatives of the Hmar, Paite, Meitei, and Meitei Pangal communities, sharing a meal together to help bridge the trust deficit. He credited the period of President's Rule with stabilising the law-and-order situation in the state.

Khemchand Singh commended the joint recovery operations led by DGP Mukesh Singh, the Inspector General of the Border Security Force, the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South), and the Inspector General of CRPF for recovering such a large cache of arms in a short span of time.

Home Minister's Warning on Extortion

Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh also addressed the gathering, warning that strict action will be initiated against any organisation or individual involved in extortion, intimidation, or harassment of transporters along the National Highways. He added that the government plans to book such extortionists and miscreants under the National Security Act (NSA).

What Comes Next

The 15-day window expires in late August, setting a critical deadline for voluntary compliance before the state escalates enforcement. The event also saw the distribution of a publication titled 'Manipur Marches to Peace', published by the Department of Information and Public Relations, along with a short video on government initiatives. The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Art and Culture Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, MLAs, and senior civil and police officials. With 30 per cent of looted weapons still unaccounted for, the coming weeks will test both the government's resolve and the public's willingness to cooperate.