Official says half of looted police weapons recovered in Manipur, most during President’s rule

Security personnel during a search operation in Manipur. Photo: X/Manipur Police

Two years after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, half of the weapons looted from the police during the conflict have been recovered, with the rate of recovery speeding up after President’s Rule was imposed in the State on February 13, a senior government official said on Friday (May 2, 2025).

At least 6,020 weapons were looted from police armouries after violence between the Kuki-Zo and the Meitei people erupted in the State on May 3, 2023.

“We have recovered over 5,000 weapons so far, this includes non-police weapons also. Some weapons have been modified. Around 1,750 police weapons were recovered since February 13,” the official said, adding that though efforts were made earlier as well, the police weapons were recovered at a substantially higher rate as security forces conducted several joint operations after President’s Rule.

The total number of recovered police weapons now stands at 3,000, a significant jump from the 1,200 police weapons recovered till September 2024. At that time, the Manipur Police had recovered a total of 2,681 weapons, including non-police weapons.

The official added that 200 people have been arrested for extortion-related activities in the past three months.

‘No rallies allowed’

Another government official said that security has been heightened in the State following calls by Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups to observe the second anniversary of the violence.

“While sit-in protests and demonstrations are allowed on Saturday, we will not be allowing rallies. The Kuki-Zo groups in Churachandpur have been asked to not call their protest as ‘Separation Day’ as it may provoke the other community,” said the second government official.

A defence source said that additional army columns have been moved into the fringe regions at the convergence of Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas in the hills and valley, to check any kind of violence. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla chaired a security review on April 30 where he directed the security forces, including the police, army, Assam Rifles and other central armed police forces (CAPF), to be extra vigilant.

Around 250 people have been killed in the ethnic violence in the State and scores remain missing. Hundreds of properties were burnt and 60,000 people are still living in relief camps.