Manipur: Looted weapons pose big security concern, talks with Kukis in jeopardy

It is suspected that these weapons were used by the respective communities in targeting each other in their areas of dominance and continue to be used to foment trouble sporadically.  Underlining the sensitivity of the issue, sources said, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Valley-based umbrella body of civil society groups, has informed police that it has been getting anonymous calls to pressure government to stop recovery weapons or else the situation would further worsen in the state.

Conceding it to be a matter of concern, former CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, who was appointed as adviser to Manipur government in the wake of the violence, said, “We are making recoveries. Till now we have recovered 456 arms and 6,670 pieces of ammunition. These include those looted by both Meitei and Kuki groups. There is still some tension in the state. But we are hopeful of normalcy being restored soon.”

The developments of the past few days have also cast a shadow on the ongoing negotiations between the Centre and Kuki militant groups for a peace accord. Sources said even though Kuki groups have earlier articulated a stance that they would give their assent to any agreement only after the government formalised the Naga peace deal, the Kukis have been more accommodating and open to negotiations with the Centre compared to Nagas.

In fact, the Centre was hopeful of achieving an agreement with the Kuki groups even without the Naga peace deal happening. However, the recent developments in Manipur, which have forced Kuki population to shift out of the Valley and Meitis to leave the hills, along with demands for a separate administration for Kukis, has pegged the talks back by several years, sources said.

Meitei groups are now putting pressure on the government to not extend SoS agreements signed with Kuki groups.