Onlykashmir.in News Desk
In a milestone event, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday declared the state a bastion of peace as the last remaining ethnic insurgent group, the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) or HPC(D), led by Lalhmingthanga Sanate, formally laid down its arms.
Although it had remained dormant for several years, the Sanate faction was considered the last surviving insurgent group in the state, engaging in sporadic and largely frivolous criminal activities at irregular intervals.
A total of 43 cadres of the group, including Sanate, surrendered their weapons to the government during a homecoming and arms-laying ceremony held at Sesawng on Thursday.
The ‘homecoming ceremony’ follows the peace accord signed between the Mizoram government and the HPC(D) on April 14, effectively marking the end of insurgency in the state.
Speaking at the event, Lalduhoma said that the shadow of HPC(D) insurgency had lingered whenever peace in Mizoram was discussed in the past.
“We approached negotiations with an open heart to reach an agreement. Our Home Minister and his colleagues worked tirelessly. Today, we have reached our goal. Now, with a peaceful heart, we can proudly say Mizoram is a truly peaceful state,” the Chief Minister said.
Urging various Mizo tribes to reunite, Lalduhoma emphasised that no single tribe stands above the shared Mizo identity.
“We are all Mizo. If sub-tribes within the Mizo community try to stand entirely on their own today, it is unlikely they would succeed. We must find contentment in our shared Mizo identity. We will thrive only through unity,” he said.
Stating that the price of peace is high, Lalduhoma—who resigned from the Indian Police Service decades ago to mediate peace during the secessionist movement spearheaded by the Mizo National Front—recalled that he sacrificed many things so that peace could prevail in the region.
He lauded the surrendering cadres for their bravery, asserting that only the truly courageous have the strength to lay down arms for the greater good of the community.
Lalduhoma reaffirmed that Mizoram no longer tolerates insurgency and called for a collective commitment to safeguarding peace.
“The Mizo people will no longer permit insurgency to resurface in our land. Let us all abstain from anything that could trigger discord and unrest. Let us abandon policies and ideologies that incite conflict for temporary gains and work together to sustain lasting peace and stability in our state,” he said.
Home Minister K. Sapdanga described the day as “historic,” attributing the success of the agreement to Lalduhoma’s consistent commitment to peace. He hailed him as a “symbol of peace,” recalling his sacrifices in pursuing the peace process in Mizoram.
The Home Minister also said that the government will work hand-in-hand with the returning cadres to fulfil their aspirations through democratic and administrative means.
Assembly Speaker Lalbiakzama, who was elected from the Hmar-dominated Chalfilh constituency, welcomed the development, noting that peace in Hmar-inhabited areas had long been a key priority.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Sanate acknowledged the changing political climate under Lalduhoma’s administration.
He stated that the construction of the “Unity Bridge” over the Tuivai River—linking the Hmar-dominated Tipaimukh area in Manipur—and the Tuirial-Mauchar road connecting Assam are tangible signs of the government’s commitment to developing Hmar-dominated areas.
The event was attended by ministers, legislators, including Adviser to the Chief Minister Lalmuanpuia Punte, senior officials, and several Hmar leaders from Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam.
