Arambai Tenggol presses to deport all illegal immigrants from Manipur, surrenders arms

Imphal: Arambai Tenggol, a Manipur culture revivalist group which members took up arms to defend Kuki-Zo aggressive attacks, has surrendered 246 weapons at 1st Manipur Rifles campus, here on Thursday.

The group surrendered the weapons following agreements made between governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Arambai Tenggol on Tuesday. It submitted a memorandum listing several demands ‘on behalf of the people’ to the government.

They demanded the governor to deport all illegal immigrants from Manipur among other demands.

The ethnic conflict which erupted on 3rd May, 2023 has been continuing for the last more than one year resulting in the death, casualty of many lives and displacement of thousands of families of Meltei/Meetei community till date. Impact of prolonged ethnic conflict must be brought to an end, said Arambai Tenggol in the memorandum to the governor, pressing to fulfill its demands.

Arambai Tenggol demanded to complete Border Fencing (Indo-Myanmar border) at the earliest, implementation of NRC with 1951 as base year, Abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) and stringent action against So0 violation Militants, complete destruction of Poppy Plantation, withdrawal of ST status from Illegal immigrants, no arrest or legal action against Village Volunteers including Arambai Tenggol by any Commission, Tribunal, Court etc., amendment of MLR E. LR Act 1960 for equal implementation in both hill and valley, and to reinstate the ST status of Meitei/Meetei.

“In the meeting with the governor we strongly demanded to go against the Seperate Administration demand (made by Kuki-Zo). He (governor) made his commitment to the demand,” said Munindro Mangang, a leader of Arambai Tenggol

He said Arambai Tenggol will wait and watch the government’s action to the demands.

“We have accepted the appeal of the governor to surrender weapons as a pathway to restore peace. If Kuki-Zo arms groups further attack towards the Meitei villagers, AT will retaliate the attack by any means”, he warned.

Besides the arms surrender at the Manipur Rifles campus, 61 weapons were also surrendered in other parts of the state including hills, said Manipur Police Control Room.

The governor had urged to youths to surrender illegally possessed weapons in seven days, Thursday being the last day.

The governor’s request for the surrender or looted and illegnlly held weapons and ammunition has yielded a positive response. In both the valley and the hill districts, various groups, including youth volunteers, community leaders, CSOs and women organisations, have played a significant rold in handing over or surrender the illegally held weapons and ammunition, the police control room said.

According to it, a total of 307 weapons were surrendered on on the last day of the seven-day period granted for voluntary surrender of weapons.

Such voluntary surrender of weapons will significantly help in restoring peace, communal harmony and lawfulness in the state of Manipur, it said.