Active gun licences in Manipur surge after 2023 ethnic violence

Number of active gun licences in Manipur has risen sharply over the past several years, with official data pointing to a significant surge following the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023. Government figures show that active licences increased from 26,836 in December 2016 to 35,117 in July 2023. As of February 2026, the number has further climbed to 42,344.