Express View: In Manipur, the state must reassert its authority

Indian Express

10-06-2025

Manipur has a long and complex history of insurgency rooted in issues of ethnic identity. Historical grievances have led to the formation of militant groups within both the Meitei and the Kuki communities, like the United National Liberation Front, the People's Liberation Army, the Kuki National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland has a significant presence in northern Manipur. When ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, these networks of militancy were reactivated. The failure of the Centre and the state government to bring the situation under control has, in many areas, entrenched the hold of these groups. This was evident in the recent protests in Imphal over the arrest of a top leader of the Arambai Tenggol (AT) by the CBI. Asem Kanan Singh, the self-styled 'army chief' of the AT, was picked up by security forces along with four other members of the outfit for involvement in 'various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023'.
Originally framed as a 'socio-religious' body — founded by BJP MP and titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba — the AT now operates as an armed militia. Its proclivity for violence, extortion and intimidation is well documented. In what was a chilling demonstration of its power, the AT infamously 'summoned' all the elected Meitei legislators in the state, including ministers, to a meeting at the Kangla Fort in January 2024. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had alleged back then that the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president, K Meghachandra, was assaulted in this meeting. The state government, led by N Biren Singh, was either unable or unwilling to crack down on this group.
Manipur's descent into militia-fuelled politics underscores the urgent need for the state to reassert its authority. It must reclaim its role as the mediator between Meiteis and Kukis — a task that demands political leadership with credibility across ethnic lines. Following Singh's resignation and the imposition of President's Rule in February, the Centre has attempted to stabilise the situation, even as some MLAs (none of them Kuki) push to restore a popular government. It must do more. The Centre must send an unequivocal message: Unlawful activities by groups like the AT will face zero tolerance. The threat is not one-sided. Around the same time as Asem Kanan Singh's arrest, the NIA arrested three Kuki insurgents accused of attacking a police post and killing two commandos in Moreh in January 2024. The state must convince all communities that peace and prosperity cannot be sacrificed at the altar of ethnic rivalry.