Imphal, March 8: More than 1,000 arms along with a substantial amount of ammunition were voluntarily surrendered to security forces in strife-torn Manipur during a two-week amnesty period, a police officer confirmed on Friday. The surrender of looted and illegally held weapons followed an appeal by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, offering a window for individuals to contribute to peace and security.

The final number of surrendered arms is yet to be confirmed, as authorities in Imphal are still collating details from all districts. The surrendered cache includes a mix of looted and illegally procured weapons, including handguns, machine guns, grenades, mortars, and advanced rifles such as the INSAS and AK-56.

Breakdown of Surrendered Weapons

A total of approximately 1,023 arms were surrendered across five valley districts, five hill districts, and Jiribam. Over 760 weapons came from the valley districts, while the remainder were from the hills and Jiribam. The surrendered arsenal included:

• 9mm pistols
• Sub-machine guns (SMGs)
• Colt-machine guns (CMGs)
• Self-loading rifles (SLRs)
• Modified sniper rifles
• INSAS and AK-56 rifles
• Grenades, including Chinese-made ones
• Bulletproof jackets, helmets, radio sets, camouflage uniforms, and locally made mortars (Pompi)

Key Dates and Surrender Figures

The highest number of arms was surrendered on February 27, with 307 weapons handed over, including 246 by Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei group. On March 6, the last day of the amnesty period, 196 weapons were surrendered across at least eight districts.

Governor Bhalla had initially set a seven-day deadline starting February 20, urging warring groups to surrender looted and illegal arms. The deadline was later extended until 4 PM on March 6 following demands from both hill and valley residents for more time. The administration assured that no punitive action would be taken against those who surrendered their weapons voluntarily.

Post-Deadline Security Operations

After the amnesty period ended, security forces launched combing and search operations across Manipur, recovering 36 arms, 129 rounds of ammunition, seven explosives, and 21 miscellaneous items. Additionally, 15 illegal bunkers were destroyed, including twelve in K Langnom and Khengjang areas and three in Haraothel, all located in Kangpokpi district.

Political Situation in Manipur

Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The state assembly, which was set to run until 2027, has been placed under suspended animation.

The ethnic violence in the state began on May 3, 2023, leading to the deaths of at least 250 people and the displacement of thousands. Clashes primarily occurred between the Meitei community in the valley and the Kuki community in the hills. However, the Naga-majority districts remained unaffected.

The recent surge in arms surrender has been seen as a significant step towards restoring peace in the troubled region. Authorities remain vigilant as they continue efforts to recover any remaining illegal weapons and maintain law and order.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday morning for a two-day visit to Gujarat, focusing on preparations for the 2027 assembly elections.

Upon arrival at Ahmedabad airport, he proceeded to the Gujarat Congress headquarters in Paldi, where he held meetings with senior party leaders. Among those present were former state Congress presidents and former leaders of opposition in the assembly, the party stated.

High-Level Meetings on Party Strategy

Later in the day, Gandhi is set to attend a meeting with members of the State Political Affairs Committee. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Congress highlighted that Gandhi had previously expressed confidence in the party’s victory in the 2027 elections and emphasized that his visit marks the beginning of groundwork for the polls.

Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been under BJP rule since 1995.

Interaction with Party Workers and Social Organisations

On Friday evening, Gandhi will engage with district and city Congress presidents, along with taluka and municipality chiefs. He will also interact with representatives of social organisations between 5 PM and 7 PM, according to a media release.

On Saturday, Gandhi will address party workers in Ahmedabad before departing for Delhi in the afternoon.

Congress Prepares for AICC Session in Gujarat

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) session is scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad on April 8-9, marking the first time in 64 years that the state will host the event.

Party general secretary K C Venugopal had visited Gujarat last Tuesday to oversee preparations for the crucial meeting.

Congress’ Struggles in Gujarat Assembly Elections

In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, Congress secured only 17 of the 182 seats. However, the party’s strength further dwindled to 12 after the resignation of five MLAs. Gandhi’s visit is seen as an effort to rebuild party morale and strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Supreme Court on Thursday emphasized that courts should not delay matters concerning individual liberty for long periods. The observation came as a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih expressed concern over a Punjab and Haryana High Court decision to schedule a hearing for temporary bail after two months.

The matter before the apex court involved a plea for temporary bail on medical grounds. The petitioner’s counsel argued that his client sought bail to facilitate urgent surgery for his two-year-old daughter. However, the high court, in an order dated February 21, scheduled the hearing for April 22.

“In matters of liberty, the courts are not expected to keep the matter at such a long date,” the Supreme Court bench remarked, allowing the petitioner to request an earlier hearing before the high court.

The top court also directed the high court to expedite the matter and hear the petitioner’s plea for temporary bail at the earliest, given the urgent medical condition of the child.

The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that a request for advancing the hearing had already been submitted to the high court, but it was dismissed. In response, Justice Gavai remarked, “Now, with this observation, do you think that the high court will reject it?”

The bench further noted that issuing a notice in the matter might lead to further delays, as the respondent would then seek time to respond. Instead, it urged the high court to prioritize the case and take it up expeditiously.

“We expect the high courts to at least give some weightage to our request,” Justice Gavai added, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution in cases related to personal liberty.

The petitioner initially sought interim bail before the high court, but the case was linked with the main petition and scheduled for hearing in April. The Supreme Court’s intervention now paves the way for a potential advancement of the hearing date, ensuring urgent matters related to personal liberty are addressed promptly.

March 2025: A man from a small group of protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans outside Chatham House attempted to breach the security perimeter as External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar exited the think tank in London. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from India, calling out the “provocative activities” of what it described as a “small group of separatists and extremists.”

The demonstrators, waving separatist flags, were confined behind barricades and monitored by a significant police presence outside the venue. The situation escalated when one protester suddenly rushed past the barricades in an attempt to block the minister’s vehicle while pulling at an Indian flag attached to it. Metropolitan Police officers acted swiftly to restrain the individual, preventing further escalation. No arrests have been reported so far.

India’s Strong Condemnation

Community organization INSIGHT UK condemned the incident, stating, “It is shameful that this attack comes when Dr. S. Jaishankar is on a UK tour and had just completed a successful meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, where they discussed bilateral ties.” The organization also shared footage of the incident on social media, highlighting the breach.

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi issued a strong statement condemning the security lapse and urging the UK government to uphold its diplomatic responsibilities. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the External Affairs Minister to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations.”

Jaishankar’s Address at Chatham House

Earlier in the day, during his session at Chatham House, Jaishankar was questioned about human rights concerns in India. Responding to the inquiry, he remarked, “A lot of this is political. We have been, for political reasons, at the receiving end of various expressions and campaigns on human rights. We listen to it. We are not perfect, nobody is perfect. There can be situations which require redressal and remedy.”

Jaishankar further defended India’s human rights record, stating, “I would argue that, if one looks around the world, we have a very strong human rights record. As a credible democracy, where people have growing faith in our institutions and representation has broadened in every conceivable way over the last many decades, where the state has been fair in the treatment of its citizens, I think any sweeping concern on human rights is misplaced. I don’t see any justification for it at all.”

The UK authorities have yet to release an official statement on the security incident. However, given the diplomatic tensions surrounding pro-Khalistan activities, the matter is expected to remain under close scrutiny.