43 Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) Cadres to Lay Down Arms in Mizoram Following Peace Accord

Aizawl, April 29, 2026: As many as 43 cadres of the Lalhmingthanga Sanate-led faction of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) (HPC-D) are set to surrender their arms in Mizoram on Thursday, marking a significant step toward lasting peace in the state, officials said.

Members of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) [HPC(D)] during the arms laying ceremony held on April 12, 2018, at Sesawng Village in Mizoram. (File Photo)

The ‘homecoming ceremony’ will take place at the Police Central Training Institute, about 40 km from Aizawl, and will be attended by Lalduhoma, Chief Minister of Mizoram, and K. Sapdanga, Home Minister of Mizoram.

The surrender follows the signing of a peace accord between the Mizoram government and the HPC(D) on April 14. The agreement was signed by David Lalthantluanga and Lalhmingthanga Sanate, representing the insurgent group.

Officials said the development effectively marks the end of insurgency in Mizoram, as the Sanate-led faction had been considered the last surviving ethnic insurgent outfit in the state. Although largely inactive in recent years, the group had been accused of sporadic criminal activities, including extortion in Hmar-dominated areas.

The peace agreement focuses on socio-economic development in the Hmar-majority region under the jurisdiction of the Sinlung Hills Council (SHC). The plan includes enhanced budgetary allocations, a special development package, infrastructure improvements, and better connectivity.

Among the key demands of HPC(D) were administrative restructuring of the SHC, transfer of its administration to the District Council and Minority Affairs Department, establishment of development and agriculture offices in Sakawrdai, and increased annual funding beginning from the 2027–28 financial year.

The group also sought official recognition of cultural events such as the Sikpui Ruoi festival and Hmar Martyrs’ Day (May 16) as official holidays within the SHC area, which comprises 31 villages in northern and northeastern Mizoram bordering Assam and Manipur.

The Sanate faction traces its roots to the original HPC movement formed in 1986, which had demanded an Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Schedule. Over the years, different factions entered into peace agreements, with the latest accord seen as the final phase of the peace process.

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According to officials, the Mizoram government has assured that steps will be taken to implement the demands outlined in the agreement, paving the way for development and stability in the Hmar-majority areas.

A leader of the group stated that the government led by the Zoram People's Movement played a crucial role in facilitating the return of the cadres through sustained dialogue and negotiations.