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Meitei leader's arrest: Protests continue in Manipur defying prohibitory orders

Meitei leader's arrest: Protests continue in Manipur defying prohibitory orders

The Hindu9 hours ago

Protesters took out torchlight processions overnight, burnt a government building and clashed with security forces, defying prohibitory orders as Manipur continued to witness demonstrations over the arrests of a Meitei organisation leader and four others, police said on Monday (June 9, 2025)
Also read: Manipur government imposes curfew, Internet suspension in Bishnupur, four other districts
Clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel in Kwakeithel and Singjamei in Imphal West district, prompting the police to fire several rounds of tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the agitators, an officer said.
The Sub-Divisional Collector (SDC) Office at Yairipok Tulihal in Imphal East district was set on fire, causing partial damage to the building, and official records were destroyed, he said.
The police have initiated an investigation to identify the culprits behind the arson, the officer said, adding that security in the area has been heightened to prevent untoward incidents.
The demonstrators created mounds of soil on roads in Sekmai and Koirengei areas in Imphal West district to prevent the movement of security forces.
They burnt tyres in the middle of the roads and clashed with security forces in Wangkhei, Yairipok and Khurai in Imphal East district, and several rounds of tear gas shells were fired to disperse them, another officer said.
Burnt tyres with smoke billowing were seen on the roads in several localities across Imphal this morning.
"The situation continues to remain tense with protesters blocking several roads with bamboo sticks. Though several roadblocks, particularly on the Tiddim road that leads to the Imphal airport, have been cleared by security forces," a police officer said.
Women's groups joined the protests and held torchlight processions in Khurai, demanding the immediate formation of a government in the state, which is now under the President's rule.
Protests erupted across Manipur since Saturday (June 7) over the arrests of Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh and four others.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it has arrested a member of Arambai Tenggol at Imphal Airport on Sunday for his alleged involvement in various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023, while the police did not disclose details of the four others
Prohibitory orders imposed, internet suspended
Prohibitory orders have been clamped in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching districts, while internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN facilities, have been suspended in these valley areas since Saturday night after violent protests erupted across the state.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday held a security review meeting with senior officials in the wake of the demonstrations across the state.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule in the northeastern State after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned.
The State Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.

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Manipur simmers after Arambai Tenggol leader arrested: A short history of the Meitei outfit
Manipur simmers after Arambai Tenggol leader arrested: A short history of the Meitei outfit

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Manipur simmers after Arambai Tenggol leader arrested: A short history of the Meitei outfit

The CBI's arrest of a leader from Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol on Saturday has put the focus back on the group. Protests immediately followed the arrest, with internet services snapped across Manipur's central valley. In a statement, the CBI said it arrested Asem Kanan Singh, the self-styled 'army chief' of the outfit at Imphal airport over his involvement in 'various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023' and that he had been taken to Guwahati in connection with the investigation. According to officials, Asem was also allegedly involved in the February 2024 abduction of an Additional SP of Imphal West from his home. The arrest is significant as the organisation shot to prominence after the violence between the Meitei and Kuki groups in May 2023. In an environment of a near-institutional collapse in Manipur, along with a complete separation of Meitei and Kuki populations and a general lack of trust in the fairness of police and security forces, a lot of radical and militant organisations have become operational on either side of the ethnic divide. Sources in the security establishment say that Tenggol and its newfound clout are a product of this. In January 2024, more than 30 MLAs across party lines, as well as Minister of State for External Affairs and Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, had gathered for a meeting in Imphal upon 'summons' from Arambai Tenggol. Chief Minister N Biren Singh was among those who later signed a document containing the demands of the group. Subsequently, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that the party's legislators had been attacked at the meeting. Formed as a socio-cultural outfit in 2020, the Arambai Tenggol has come to prominence since the Meitei-Kuki conflict began in 2023, garnering public support and administrative clout. The group's name roughly translates to 'spear wielders' and is derived from the ancient war tactics of Meitei warriors. While it has an armed cadre strength of around 2,000, the outfit is supported by several thousand volunteers across the Imphal Valley. Soon after violence erupted in May 2023, members of the group were seen to be at the forefront of the clashes with Kukis, and were accused of looting arms from state armouries and defending Meitei villages against Kuki attacks. Multiple FIRs registered by the Manipur Police in the initial days of the violence in the state mentioned Arambai Tenggol. Kuki groups claim that Tenggol fighters have led mobs that torched their villages and killed their people, while the Manipur Police remained a mute spectator. The group's cadre are also suspected to be involved in the clashes with Kuki militants in Moreh. The group also casts a political shadow. In a social media post in August 2022, it claimed to have met Biren Singh. A picture of the meeting showed Singh and Sanajaoba sitting with the group's chief, Khuman, and other members of the Arambai Tenggol. That September, a Facebook post by Sanajaoba, who is also the titular king of Manipur, showed Tenggol members taking 'oath' at his residence. Tenggol members typically wear black T-shirts with a red coloured picture of Meitei cavalry on the back. They also hoist Salai Taret flags which have seven colours, with each representing a clan of the Meiteis. Security establishment sources say that leaders of the group often invoke ancient Meitei culture and the historical Meitei kingdom of Kangleipak as well as use nationalistic rhetoric and talk about the protection of the Sanamahism religion. 'By putting themselves at the forefront of violence against the Kukis and defending villages against Kuki attacks, the group has garnered tremendous public support in the Valley. It has sophisticated arms, mostly looted from police armouries, and enjoys some sympathy in the Manipur Police constabulary. At a time when the credibility of Manipur politicians is rather low, the group has gained clout. Everyone, including political leaders, wants to associate with it,' said a Manipur official. Sources said the security establishment, too, was wary of taking any action against the group, or even against the Kuki militant groups, given the support they enjoy at the moment in their respective areas of influence. In May 2023, when it began making headlines amid violence in the state, the Arambai Tenggol announced its dissolution. Security establishment sources, however, said it merely pretended to do that to go underground. Earlier this year, addressing members of Arambai Tenggol at an event in Imphal, Sanajaoba said that the group would 'be ready for the call to defend our land' at any time despite having publicly handed over some of its weapons to the police.

Manipur Highway Blockade Triggers Price Hike, Shortages
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Arrested by CBI, Arambai Tenggol leader ex-head constable, terminated from service in March: Manipur Police
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Manipur Police on Monday said Ashem Kanan Singh , arrested by the CBI a day before, was a former head constable in the state police and was terminated from service in March due to involvement in criminal activities. The CBI arrested Singh, a member of Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol (AT), on Sunday for his alleged involvement in various criminal activities related to the 2023 Manipur violence , officials said. In a post on X, police said, "Ashem Kanan Singh (46) was arrested by CBI in Imphal. He was a Head Constable in Manipur Police till he was terminated from service on 3rd March 2025 for his involvement in various criminal activities, including cross-border smuggling of arms.. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now "He was arrested for his criminal activities which include several acts of grave nature and involvement in unlawful activities and criminal cases registered against him," police said, adding, "following his arrest, protests erupted from the evening of June 7 in the valley areas of the state with Manipur Police and security forces bringing the situation under control." Earlier, NIA arrested three insurgents in a case related to a deadly attack on security forces that had killed two police commandos and injured several others in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, on January 17, 2024. Live Events "One Thangminlen Mate, a member of Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (KIT) insurgent outfit, was arrested on May 19, 2025, in Assam's Silchar. Two other accused, part of the team which executed the deadly attack, namely Kamginthang Gangte, a member of the Kuki National Army (KNA), and Hentinthang Kipgen @ Thangneo Kipgen, associated with the Village Volunteers group in Churachandpur district, were arrested by the NIA on June 6 from Manipur," police said. Following the arrests, protests and rallies were held, and a shutdown was imposed by some civil society organisations in Tengnoupal and Moreh and Tengnoupal districts on June 6 and 7. In its appeal, police urged the public not to support such protests in connection with the arrests of people involved in unlawful and criminal activities.

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