46 KCP-PWG cadres surrender with arms in Manipur, government welcomes move

The Manipur government and IGAR (South) on July 21 jointly welcomed 46 cadres of the Kangleipak Communist Party-People’s War Group (KCP-PWG) who surrendered and laid down their arms to return to the mainstream. A homecoming ceremony was held at the Mantripukhri Garrison, Headquarters Assam Rifles (South), in Imphal East district, where the cadres surrendered before Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

 

The event was attended by Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, the Minister of Art, Culture and Tourism, several MLAs, the Chief Secretary, Security Adviser to the Government of Manipur, General Officer Commanding Spear Corps, DGP Manipur Police, IG Assam Rifles (South), Home Commissioner, DIG CRPF, and other senior officials from the state administration and security forces.

 

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said that although armed group activities had increased following the onset of the crisis in the state, the situation was gradually improving. He stated that around 8,000 weapons had been disarmed so far, and since the formation of the present government five months ago, at least 1,200 weapons had been recovered, including 600 looted arms.

 

Appealing to other armed cadres to join the mainstream, the Chief Minister said that lasting development in Manipur could only be achieved through peace. He assured that the government was ready to extend support under the state’s surrender policy to any armed group willing to return to normal life.

 

Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh described the surrender as a significant development, saying it was the first time since the May 2023 conflict that cadres of the KCP-PWG had surrendered and laid down arms before the government. He said the relentless efforts of security forces had played a crucial role in bringing the cadres back into the mainstream and urged other armed groups operating within and outside the state to abandon violence and contribute to Manipur’s development.

 

According to the Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing), the surrendered cadres voluntarily laid down 28 sophisticated weapons, including AK rifles, .303 rifles, pistols, double-barrel rifles, single-barrel rifles, an INSAS rifle, a Self Loading Rifle, a Carbine Machine Gun, and a Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher, along with a large quantity of magazines, ammunition and explosives.

 

The PIB described the mass surrender as highly significant because none of the cadres were part of prior peace agreements. It noted that the KCP, founded on April 14, 1980, by communist ideologues Y. Ibohanbi and Ibopishak, had over the decades fractured into multiple factions, with the People’s War Group emerging as a disruptive splinter unit that impacted several valley districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West and Kakching.

 

Historically, surrenders from the KCP-PWG had occurred in much smaller groups, ranging from five to twelve cadres in recent years. The surrender of 46 active cadres simultaneously was described as an unprecedented event for the faction. While officials said it could not be definitively stated that the PWG faction had been completely dissolved, they termed it a severe operational degradation that significantly dismantled the group’s regional anti-social networks and territorial reach.

 

The PIB further stated that the successful turnaround was the culmination of weeks of determined outreach by Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and allied agencies, supported by the state government. Their restrained, civilian-first approach was credited with motivating the cadres to give up militancy, thereby paving the way for long-stalled public infrastructure development and regional prosperity.

 

Under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East State, 2018, each surrendered cadre will receive a one-time financial grant of Rs. 4 lakh, to be kept in a fixed deposit for three years, along with a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000 for three years and incentives for surrendered weapons. The cadres will stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years, during which they will be encouraged to undergo vocational training to help them earn a livelihood after rehabilitation.

 

Director General of Police Mukesh said that the combined efforts of District Police, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, Assam Rifles and the Army would continue to strengthen peace and security in the state.