43 HPC-D Cadres Lay Down Arms in Mizoram, Marking Major Step Toward Lasting Peace

Aizawl, April 30, 2026: As many as 43 cadres of the Lalhmingthanga Sanate-led faction of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) (HPC-D) surrendered their arms in Mizoram on Thursday, marking a significant step toward lasting peace in the state, officials said.

Cadres of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) (Lalhmingthanga Sanate faction) lay down their arms during the homecoming ceremony at Central Training Institute (CTI) Sesawng in Mizoram.

The ‘homecoming ceremony’ was held at the Central Training Institute (CTI) Sesawng, about 40 km from Aizawl, and attended by Lalduhoma and K. Sapdanga.

The surrender followed the peace accord signed on April 14 between the Mizoram government and the HPC-D. 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 occasionally been accused of criminal activities such as 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 budget allocations, a special development package, infrastructure improvements, and improved 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.

Weapons surrendered by cadres of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) (Lalhmingthanga Sanate faction) are displayed during the homecoming and arms-laying ceremony at Central Training Institute (CTI) Sesawng in Mizoram.

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 includes 31 villages in northern and northeastern Mizoram bordering Assam and Manipur.

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

Officials added that the Zoram People’s Movement-led Mizoram government played a crucial role in facilitating the return of the cadres through sustained dialogue and negotiations, paving the way for development, stability and long-term peace in Hmar-majority areas of Mizoram.