Protests In Manipur's Imphal Over Arrest Of Arambai Tenggol Member
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Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Protests erupted in Imphal against the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh, accused by Kuki tribes of violence. Protesters burned tires and demanded his release while tensions rise due to a Kuki suspect's arrest in a police officer's murder case.
Imphal/Guwahati:
Protests broke out against the arrest of an Arambai Tenggol member in Manipur's capital Imphal on Saturday night.
The protesters, mostly young people who are members of the Meitei volunteer group Arambai Tenggol (AT) which the Kuki tribes accuse of attacking their villages at the peak of the ethnic clashes, burnt tyres on the roads and shouted slogans against the arrest of AT leader Kanan Singh.
Night visuals from Imphal showed crowds demanding Kanan Singh to be freed. Residents posted on social media that they heard what sounded like gunfire in Imphal's Kwakeithel area.
Some protesters said the AT handed over illegal and looted weapons after Governor AK Bhalla's order, and are unarmed now on security guarantees given by the authorities. They also demanded the arrest of Kuki insurgents who attacked Meitei villages under the guise of "village volunteers".
Moreh Situation
The protest in Imphal comes amid agitation by the Kuki tribes over the arrest of a suspect from their community from the border town Moreh for allegedly killing a police officer with a sniper rifle in October 2023.
Kuki civil society groups alleged "arbitrary arrest" of Kamginthang Gangte, who is an accused in the murder case of Manipur Police officer Chingtham Anand, and called a shutdown in Tengnoupal district where Moreh is located.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is looking into several cases in Manipur, including against AT chief Korounganba Khuman.
Police sources said that with the state deeply divided on ethnic lines, investigators face resistance from both communities whenever they move in to arrest suspects as part of the formal process.
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Manipur Protesters Pour Petrol On Heads, Threaten To Self-Immolate Themselves On Camera
Last Updated: Violent protests erupted in Manipur's capital city on Saturday night, prompting the administration to suspend the internet services for five days. As tensions soared in Manipur's Imphal over the arrest of a key leader of the Arambai Tenggol (AT), Kanan Singh, a group of young men poured petrol on their heads and threatened self-immolation on Saturday night. The video of the incident has now surfaced on social media. This comes after protests erupted in parts of Manipur's Imphal after Singh was arrested by the security forces. Arson was witnessed on the roads as protesters burnt tyres and blocked the streets, prompting the administration to suspend internet services across five valley districts for five days. Manipur is arrest triggers Imphal opens fire. Curfew Northeast is slipping up, Delhi. #Manipur #ManipurViolence #Imphal — THE SQUADRON (@THE_SQUADR0N) June 7, 2025 In the protest videos, a group of young men wearing black t-shirts were seen holding bottles filled with petrol. One of them was heard saying, 'We gave up our weapons. We helped during the floods like we were supposed to. Now you're arresting us. We'll end our lives." Kanan Singh is the main accused in the February 2024 attack on the house of Additional Superintendent of Police Moirangthem Amit and the kidnapping that followed. At that time, Kanan was a head constable in the state police commando unit, but he was later suspended for neglecting his duty. The protesters were members of the Meitei volunteer group Arambai Tenggol, which had earlier been accused of attacking Kuki villages during ethnic clashes. They shouted slogans demanding the release of their leader and set tyres on fire on the roads. After the arrest, large crowds gathered, and the situation quickly turned tense. Roads were set on fire, and about 50 gunshots were heard in the area. Security forces were sent in to control the chaos. During the violence, angry mobs set fire to two buses and a jeep used by the security forces. Several CCTV cameras at major traffic points were also damaged. First Published:
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an hour ago
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Video: Protesters Pour Petrol On Head, Threaten To Set Themselves On Fire In Manipur
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Protesters in Manipur's capital Imphal threatened to set themselves on fire over the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh. The government has imposed curfew and snapped internet in five valley districts of Manipur. Imphal/Guwahati/New Delhi: A group of young men poured petrol on their heads and threatened to set themselves on fire in Manipur's capital Imphal over the arrest of a key leader of the Arambai Tenggol (AT), a volunteer group of the Meitei community which faces allegations of participating in the Meitei-Kuki ethnic clashes. Protests broke out on Saturday night in Imphal after the security forces arrested AT leader, Kanan Singh. The protesters burnt tyres on the road and blocked roads. Some Imphal residents also reported hearing the sound of gunfire. In visuals of the protest, a group of young men in black t-shirts were seen holding bottles with petrol in them. One of them was heard saying, "We have given up arms. We have done what you're supposed to do during the floods. Now you're arresting us. We will kill ourselves." Kanan Singh is the main suspect in the attack on the house of Additional Superintendent of Police Moirangthem Amit and the subsequent kidnapping of the senior police officer in February 2024. The same month, he served as a head constable attached to a commando unit of the state police before the force suspended him over "dereliction of duty". Thereafter, Kanan Singh joined the AT. A curfew has been imposed and internet has been snapped for five days in five districts - Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, and Kakching. The protesters referred to the AT handing over firearms on the assurance of security guarantee of Meitei villages in the foothills in February after Manipur Governor AK Bhalla, under the President's rule, ordered everyone in the border state to hand over illegally held and looted firearms. AT members were also seen in flood relief work in recent days in Manipur's valley areas. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is looking into several cases in Manipur, including against AT chief Korounganba Khuman. Protests In Moreh The fresh protests in Imphal come amid a mass agitation by the Kuki tribes over the arrest of a suspected insurgent leader from their community from the border town Moreh for allegedly killing a Manipur Police officer with a sniper rifle in October 2023. The accused, Kamgingthang Gangte, is allegedly a leader of the insurgent group Kuki National Army (KNA) which signed the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre and the state government. The KNA and other SoO agreement signatories face allegations of ground rules violation. "It is a matter of deep concern that so-called civil society groups are protesting against the arrest of a militant, who is under the SoO agreement, and allegedly linked to the murder of a police officer on duty," a spokesperson of the civil group Meitei Heritage Society told reporters. "Facing Resistance During Arrests" Police sources said that with the state deeply divided on ethnic lines, investigators face resistance from both communities whenever they move in to arrest suspects as part of the formal process. The AT maintains it is a cultural organisation that was compelled to take up arms as "village volunteers" due to ineffective law enforcement in the early days of the ethnic violence in May 2023; it says lack of law enforcement led to Meitei villages in the foothills coming under attacks from Kuki militants. The Kuki tribes have alleged the AT is a "radical Meitei militia" that have been attacking Kuki villages. Kuki civil society groups have also alleged the AT launched attacks on their villages along the inter-district borders after the first wave of clashes in May 2023, which forced the Kuki tribes to take up arms and form "village volunteers". Many AT members have been named in cases of police armoury lootings. While both sides call their armed individuals "volunteers", a similar feature is the weapons they use - AK and M series assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, crude and military grade mortars, high-end sniper rifles, surveillance drones, etc. Banned Meitei militant groups such as the PLA, KYKL and KCP that had become nearly extinct in Manipur for the last 10 years also returned from Myanmar after May 2023 and due to the junta's diminishing hold in areas where the few remaining Meitei militants camped. The United National Liberation Front (Pambei), or UNLF (P), is the only Meitei militant group that signed a SoO-like ceasefire with the Centre and the state government. The Kuki, Zomi and Hmar tribes have nearly two dozen insurgent groups that come under two umbrella organisations called the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF). The KNO and UPF have signed the SoO agreement whose terms include the insurgents staying at designated camps and their weapons kept in locked storage, to be monitored regularly. Many of them face allegations of taking part in the Manipur violence. The Manipur violence has claimed over 260 lives and displaced nearly 50,000 people.
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2 hours ago
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Manipur cuts internet services in 5 districts as violent protests erupt after arrest of Meitei radical outfit leader
Manipur cuts internet services in 5 districts as violent protests erupt after arrest of Meitei radical outfit leader Imphal: The Manipur Government on Saturday suspended Internet services, including mobile data, in five valley districts after violent protests in Imphal East and Imphal West districts following the reported arrest of a Meitei radical outfit 'Arambai Tenggol' leader, news agency IANS quoted officials as saying. The five affected districts are Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. 'In view of the prevailing law and order situation in the State of Manipur especially in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching & Bishnupur districts districts of Manipur, there is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission serious of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have repercussions for the law and order situation in the State of Manipur, 'Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) N Ashok Kumar said in an order. 'There is an imminent danger of loss of life and /or damage to public/private property, and wide spread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours, which might be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/ messaging services on mobile services, SMS services and dongle services,' it added. The order states that Internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN, were temporarily suspended for five days in five districts of Manipur (Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur), starting at midnight on Saturday. Internet and mobile data service suspensions will not apply to individuals granted exemptions by the state government. The emergency order, issued without prior notice to affected parties, warns of legal consequences for anyone violating its terms. Protests broke out in some areas of Imphal on Saturday evening following the reported arrest of an Arambai Tenggol leader. 'To thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life or danger to public/private property, by it has become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in public interest, as Whats stopping the spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platform such WHATS App, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, on various electronic equipment like tablet, computer, demonstrators, mobile phone etc. and sending bulk SMS, for facilitating and/or mobilization of mobs of agitators and arson/vandalism which can cause loss of life and/or damage to public/private property by indulging inand other types of violent activities,' the order added. 'Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, having satisfied that the above situation is likely to cause serious disturbances to the peaceful co-existence and maintenance of public order, do hereby order suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including VSAT and VPN Bishnupur services in the territorial jurisdiction of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching & districts of the State of Manipur for 5(five) days with effect from 11:45 P.M. of 07-06- 2025 except for those cases whereby State Government exempts and allows for whitelisting,' it added. (With inputs from agencies)
