46 KCP cadres lay down arms before Manipur CM
In a major security breakthrough that promises to usher in a stable and development-oriented era in Manipur, 46 active cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) surrendered before Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh at the Mantripukhri Garrison in Imphal East district on Tuesday.
The event, organised as a ‘Home Coming Ceremony’ at the Headquarters of Assam Rifles (South), was attended by senior Government functionaries and top security officers. These included the State Home Minister, the Minister of Art & Culture and Tourism, local MLAs, the Chief Secretary, the Security Advisor to the Manipur Government, the General Officer Commanding Spear Corps, the Manipur DGP, the IG Assam Rifles (South), and the DIG CRPF.
Choosing to shun the path of violence and return to mainstream civilian life, the cadres laid down 28 sophisticated weapons. The surrendered arsenal included AK series rifles, .303 rifles, pistols, single and double-barrel rifles, an INSAS rifle, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), Carbine Machine Guns, and a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher, along with a substantial quantity of ammunition, magazines, and explosives.
Security officials highlighted the significance of the event, pointing out that none of the 46 surrendering cadres was bound by prior peace agreements. Founded on 14 April 1980 by communist ideologues Y Ibohanbi and Ibopishak, the KCP subsequently broke into various splinter factions. The People’s War Group (PWG) faction emerged as a highly disruptive unit, severely impacting normal life across the valley districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, and Kakching.
While surrenders from the KCP (PWG) were historically limited to small increments of five to twelve cadres, the simultaneous surrender of 46 active militants is unprecedented for this specific outfit. Officials noted that while the mass surrender may not signal the complete dissolution of the faction, it inflicts a severe operational setback on its regional extortion networks and reach.
Security agencies attributed the successful turnaround to weeks of sustained, civilian-first outreach conducted by the Assam Rifles, Manipur Police, and State administrative machinery. Officials expressed optimism that the move would pave the way for long-stalled infrastructure projects and regional economic development in the State.
