(Photo: IANS)
Imphal, July 21 (IANS) In a major boost to the peace process in Manipur, 46 active cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) (KCP-PWG) on Tuesday surrendered before Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and laid down a large cache of arms and ammunition, officials said.
Defence spokesman Lt Col Amit Shukla said that, in a major security breakthrough poised to usher in a stable, development-oriented era, a profound turnaround has been achieved in Manipur.
In all, 46 active cadres of the banned KCP-PWG extremist group surrendered to the Chief Minister at the Mantripukhri Garrison, Headquarters of the Assam Rifles (South) in Imphal East district.
Lt Col Shukla said that choosing to embrace mainstream civilian life, the cadres voluntarily laid down 28 sophisticated weapons comprising AK series rifles, .303 rifles, pistols, double-barrel rifles, single-barrel rifles, INSAS rifle, Self Loading Rifle (SLR), Carbine Machine Guns and a Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher, alongside a large quantity of magazines, ammunition and explosives.
According to the defence spokesman, this mass transition is highly significant as none of these cadres was part of prior peace agreements. It directly addresses the legacy of the KCP, founded on April 14, 1980 by communist ideologues Y. Ibohanbi and Ibopishak.
He said that over the decades, ideological decay fractured the group into numerous entities. The PWG faction emerged as a highly disruptive splinter unit, severely impacting the valley districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, and Kakching, through anti-social and anti-national activities.
Historically, surrenders from the KCP-PWG have occurred in much smaller increments, such as groups of five to twelve cadres yielding to authorities in recent years. The surrender of 46 active cadres simultaneously is an unprecedented event for this specific faction.
Lt Col Shukla said that while it cannot be definitively stated that this marks the absolute dissolution of the PWG faction, it represents a severe operational degradation that significantly dismantles their regional anti-social networks and territorial reach.
The spokesman said that this successful turnaround is the culmination of weeks of determined outreach by the Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and allied agencies, duly supported by state government functionaries. Their restrained, civilian-first approach successfully motivated these cadres to give up militancy, clearing the path for long-stalled public infrastructure development and regional prosperity.
The surrender ceremony was graced by the presence of Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and Art & Culture and Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh. Senior government and security officials, including MLAs, Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Security Advisor to the Manipur government Kuldiep Singh, General Officer Commanding Spear Corps, Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, Inspector General, Assam Rifles (South), Home Commissioner, DIG CRPF and other dignitaries from the state administration, security forces and other stakeholders also attended the ceremony.
