Missing and dangerous

Ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in February 2023 stands as one of the most disturbing instances of state failure in India in recent memory. Then Chief Minister Biren Singh, whether through negligence or deliberate action, allowed the state to descend into a civil war of sorts as two communities indulged in a cycle of violence. Making the situation worse was the accusations against Biren that he had been complicit in enabling a militant group, Arambai Tenggol, to operate unchecked. In the ensuing lawlessness, a highly communalized mob looted multiple police armories, seizing over 6,000 sophisticated weapons such as light and medium machine carbines, Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), INSAS rifles, AK-series rifles, and more than one lakh rounds of ammunition. Several hundred mortars and hand grenades also fell into unauthorized hands, dramatically escalating the conflict. These weapons were originally in the possession of the highly trained Manipur Rifles and Commando forces-elite security units whose credibility and effectiveness were eroded by the deeply sectarian policies of Biren Singh’s administration. The state’s failure to act impartially not only deepened the communal divide but also eroded public trust in law enforcement institutions. The Centre then belatedly after two years imposed president’s rule on February 13, 2025. The newly appointed Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, announced an amnesty period on February 20, urging all those in possession of looted weapons to surrender them at their nearest police stations. The response to the amnesty was telling. Both the Meitei militant group, Arambai Tenggol, and Kuki militants complied to some extent, depositing weapons at designated police stations. However, the total number of surrendered arms was strikingly low-only around 3,000 firearms and 37,000 rounds of ammunition, a fraction of the more than 6,000 weapons and one lakh rounds stolen during the violence. Even if the surrendered weapons constituted 50% of the total looted stock, the majority were basic, single-barrel or double-barrel guns, likely used for sport or hunting. Even more alarming was the nature of the surrendered weapons. Many were rudimentary country-made arms-pompi guns, self-loading rifles, single-barrel and double-barrel shotguns, crude bombs, and hand grenades. In stark contrast, the looted police weapons were sophisticated, including high-powered carbines and assault rifles designed for military-grade operations. The surrendered cache also included some unexpected firearms-an SKS semi-automatic rifle from the Soviet Union, a 5.56mm M4 carbine marked “Property of US Govt.,” a 9mm pistol made in Italy, a .32 pistol marked “Made in Switzerland,” another .32 pistol labeled “Made in Francisco,” and an M-79 40mm Lathode Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) marked “Made in Pakistan.” The mismatch suggests a deliberate effort to conceal the true extent of the looted arsenal. These foreign-origin weapons hint at a broader, more troubling issue-potential arms smuggling or illegal procurement from international sources. The glaring absence of highly sophisticated police-issued firearms raises pressing questions: Where are the missing weapons? Who now controls them? And what does this mean for the fragile stability of Manipur? The Manipur crisis is more than just a case of ethnic violence; it is a chilling reminder of the dangers of state complicity against its own citizens. As long as accountability remains elusive, the risk of further unrest looms large.