Reflecting on the profound gravity of this milestone, Chief Minister Lalduhoma spoke to the crowd about the heavy sacrifices required to achieve true harmony, noting that the price of peace is exceptionally high. He shared a deeply personal memory, recalling how he resigned from the prestigious Indian Police Service (IPS) decades ago. Driven by a duty to his people, he stepped away from his career to serve as a peace mediator during the intense secessionist uprisings spearheaded by the Mizo National Front (MNF). He openly expressed that he left behind and lost many personal things along the way, all to ensure that lasting peace could finally prevail in the region. Turning his attention to the returning insurgents, he showered praise upon the surrendering cadres for their remarkable bravery. He firmly asserted that laying down weapons is never an easy choice; rather, it takes a truly courageous individual to possess the inner strength to walk away from violence for the greater good of the community.

Standing firm in his administration's resolve, Mr. Lalduhoma made an unwavering declaration: Mizoram has zero tolerance for insurgency moving forward. He issued a strong call to action, urging every citizen to make a collective commitment to safeguarding this hard-won peace. Delivering a passionate appeal, he stated: “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 just for the sake of temporary gains and work together to sustain lasting peace and stability in our state.”

Sharing the stage, Home Minister K. Sapdanga echoed these sentiments, officially describing the surrender event as a deeply “historic” day for the state. He directed the credit for this successful agreement toward Mr. Lalduhoma’s relentless and consistent commitment to harmony, proudly hailing the Chief Minister as a true “Symbol of Peace.” Furthermore, the Home Minister offered a strong reassurance to the former militants. He pledged that the state government is fully prepared to work hand-in-hand with the surrendered cadres, supporting them in fulfilling their community aspirations through proper, democratic, and administrative channels.

The positive momentum of the ceremony was also embraced by Assembly Speaker Lalbiakzama. Representing the Hmar-majority constituency of Chalfilh, he warmly welcomed this transformative development. For him and his constituents, bringing lasting peace to the Hmar-inhabited regions has been an urgent, long-standing priority.

Representing the formerly armed faction, Mr. Lalhmingthanga Sanate took the opportunity to address the crowd. He openly acknowledged the refreshing and changing political climate that has blossomed under the current administration led by Mr. Lalduhoma, suggesting that this new environment made their return to mainstream society possible. To emphasize his point, Mr. Sanate highlighted specific, physical infrastructure projects as solid proof of the government's sincerity. He specifically pointed to the recent construction of the “Unity Bridge” that spans the Tuivai River. As reported by sources tracking regional infrastructure like The Hills Journal, this vital bailey bridge officially links the Tipaimuk area in neighboring Manipur to Mizoram. Alongside this, he mentioned the development of the Tuirial-Mauchar road, which creates a vital connection to Assam. For the surrendered cadres, these infrastructure marvels serve as tangible, undeniable signs that the current government is deeply committed to the genuine socio-economic development of Hmar-majority areas.

To understand the full context of this surrender, local government officials provided a detailed historical timeline. The origins of the conflict date back nearly four decades to 1986, when the original Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) launched a focused political movement. Their primary demand was the establishment of an autonomous district council (ADC), governed by the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, dedicated specifically to the Hmar-populated territories in northern and northeastern Mizoram. While the organization began strictly as a peaceful political platform, the situation escalated rapidly. Frustrated by a lack of progress and feeling that their non-violent protests were yielding little to no results, the HPC leaders made the fateful decision to turn to armed insurgency in May 1987.

This dark period of armed conflict lasted for seven grueling years. Eventually, the primary HPC faction, which was then headed by Hmingchungnunga, agreed to lay down their weapons. On July 27, 1994, they signed a landmark peace accord with the Mizoram Government. As outlined by officials, this agreement directly resulted in the creation of the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC). Unfortunately, this did not bring an end to the entire conflict. A faction of HPC members felt deeply dissatisfied with the specific terms outlined in the agreement. Refusing to come overground in 1994, these dissenting individuals broke away to form the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic)—or HPC(D). Under the steadfast leadership of Mr. Sanate, this splinter group resumed the forceful demand for a dedicated ADC in Mizoram.

The internal dynamics of the insurgency shifted once again in 2011 when the HPC(D) experienced a major internal fracture, splitting entirely into two separate groups: one faction was led by H. Zosangbera, while the other remained under the command of Mr. Sanate. By April 2018, the faction commanded by Zosangbera chose the path of reconciliation, signing a separate peace accord with the State government. As noted in historical retrospectives by The Hindu, this crucial agreement led to the creation of the Sinlung Hills Council (SHC), which officially replaced the older SHDC and offered the region a much greater degree of enhanced autonomy.

Despite these administrative advancements, Mr. Sanate—who originally hailed from Khawlian village located in Mizoram’s Saitual district bordering Manipur—stubbornly remained completely outside the established peace process. The final breakthrough required a fresh approach. Beginning in 2024, the current Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) administration initiated quiet, highly strategic backchannel dialogues with Sanate's isolated faction. These patient, persistent negotiations ultimately proved successful, effectively coaxing the region's final insurgent group out of the shadows and warmly integrating them back into mainstream society.