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Hindustan Times
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Brooms, not bars: Manipur Police's unique approach for protest management
Imphal, In a novel twist to conventional policing, Manipur Police has traded handcuffs for brooms and shovels, initiating a "community service" programme for dozens of youths detained in various districts of the valley during violent protests since June 7. This unique approach follows the unrest which was witnessed on the streets after the arrest of prominent Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh and four associates during a joint operation of Manipur Police and the CBI as he was wanted in several cases. During the protests, people demanded unconditional release of Singh and others, leading to a 10-day bandh called by Arambai Tenggol, which was eventually called off on Tuesday. Instead of facing formal charges that could mar their futures, over three dozen young people found themselves on the streets, not as rioters, but as cleaners. Leveraging the innovative provisions of the recently introduced Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita , Manipur Police handed them the tools of civic duty – brooms and shovels – to clear the very roadblocks, burnt tyres, and concrete debris they or others had created during the protests. This unconventional move, police officials said, was a deliberate choice to safeguard the careers of these "misguided youths." Widely shared photos and videos show these young people in custody sweeping the roads and cleaning up the mess left over from the three-day protest, creating a powerful picture of justice balanced with a touch of civic duty. The unrest that preceded this unusual policing method was significant. On June 7, widespread agitation erupted across various valley districts following the arrest of Singh, a dismissed head constable of Manipur Police. The accused is wanted in several cases, including the February 27, 2024, attack by armed Arambai Tenggol members on the residence of Imphal West Additional Superintendent of Police Moirangthem Amit. Investigations are also underway into his alleged involvement in drug mafia, vandalising offices belonging to the Deputy Inspector General and Inspector General , an attack on the 1st Manipur Rifles, and arms smuggling. While Arambai Tengol outfit on Tuesday announced that it was ending its 10-day strike call but continuing with their peaceful and democratic manner for pressing their demand of releasing Singh, the outfit distanced itself from any violent activities being done on the streets of the outfit in its name.
Scroll.in
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Manipur relaxes prohibitory orders in valley districts, Arambai Tenggol calls off shutdown
The Manipur government on Tuesday lifted prohibitory orders in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts between 5 am and 5 pm, NDTV reported. The separate orders issued by the district magistrates permitted movement of persons outside their homes in daytime provided no activity was carried out to 'disrupt the prevailing law and order' in the area. The orders continued to disallow gatherings of five or more persons and banned the carrying of sticks, stone, firearms and explosive materials in public places. A curfew was imposed on Saturday night in Bishnupur district, and orders prohibiting five or more persons from gathering were implemented in Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West after a member of armed Meitei group Arambai Tenggol was arrested in Imphal West. Internet services had also been suspended in the five districts located in the state's Meitei-dominated valley region. Arambai Tenggol calls off shutdown The Arambai Tenggol on Tuesday withdrew the 10-day Manipur shutdown it had called to protest the arrest of its leader Asem Kanan Singh, The Hindu reported. The group decided to suspend the shutdown to 'lessen the inconvenience faced by the people across the valley', The Hindu quoted the group's Spokesperson Robin Mangang as saying. A team of the National Investigation Agency and the Manipur Police had on Saturday evening arrested Singh, said to be the 'army chief' of the Arambai Tenggol, in Imphal West. Hundreds of residents took to the streets in Imphal West's Kwakithel area to try to stop the police convoy and snatch him from custody. The police opened fire to force the mob to disperse. On Sunday, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested him for his alleged involvement in criminal activities related to the 2023 Manipur violence, The Hindu reported. Protesters also burned tyres and blocked roads in parts of the state capital, including the Tiddim road and Uripok areas in Imphal West district, demanding that Singh be immediately released. On Tuesday, Mangang added that the group will continue with democratic forms of agitation until their leader is released unconditionally. The police on Monday said that Singh was a head constable when he was terminated from service in March for his alleged involvement in criminal activities including cross-border smuggling of arms. Manipur has been mired in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities that have killed at least 260 persons and displaced more than 59,000 persons since May 2023. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Arambai Tenggol calls off 10-day Manipur bandh, protest to continue
1 2 Imphal : Arambai Tenggol has officially called off its 10-day bandh in Manipur, which was launched to protest the arrest of its leader, Asem Kanan Singh. The suspension took effect on Tuesday morning, marking the third day of the agitation. At a press conference on Tuesday, the group's PRO, Robin Mangang, condemned Singh's arrest and said the bandh was withdrawn in response to public appeals and recognition of the hardships faced by civilians. "Understanding and accepting the various inconveniences caused by the ongoing total shutdown, we have decided to call off the bandh," he said. Despite lifting the bandh, Arambai Tenggol vowed to continue democratic forms of agitation until Asem Kanan Singh is released unconditionally. "We are an unarmed group formed as a socio-cultural organisation with the objective to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of Manipur. However, circumstances forced us to defend the state from 'illegal immigrant Kuki terrorists', which led to us taking up arms. Unfortunately, as a result, govt agencies like the NIA and CBI have started arresting our members," Mangang said. Even though the shutdown has been lifted, Mangang reaffirmed that peaceful protests will persist until Singh's unconditional release. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The bandh severely disrupted daily life in the five valley districts of Manipur —Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching — bringing activity to a near standstill. The situation was further intensified by internet shutdowns and prohibitory orders imposed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by the state govt to maintain law and order. Commercial activity was hard hit, with Khwairamband Keithel, the state's largest marketplace, remaining largely closed. Only a few women vendors selling vegetables in the early hours were seen operating, while most shops kept their shutters down. Public transport services were also off the roads, with only vehicles involved in emergency services, essential supplies, and religious functions permitted to operate. To prevent escalation, state and central security forces were deployed across sensitive areas in Imphal and key points in the valley districts. The bandh, enforced primarily in the valley districts, was not observed in the hill districts of the state. It was triggered by protests that erupted late at night on June 7, leading to the imposition of a 10-day total shutdown starting that same day.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Express View: In Manipur, the state must reassert its authority
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.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Curfew, internet shutdown in India's violence-hit Manipur
Authorities have imposed a curfew and shut down the internet in parts of the troubled north-eastern Indian state of Manipur after protests erupted over the arrest of leaders from an ethnic group. On Sunday, police arrested five leaders of Arambai Tenggol, an armed Meitei radical group, including their chief Asem Kanan Singh. India's top investigation agency said Singh was arrested at Manipur's Imphal airport for his involvement in 'various criminal activities' related to the violence that broke out in the state in 2023. Manipur has been rocked by periodic violence since 2023 after ethnic clashes between the two largest groups, the majority Meitei and minority Kuki, over land and influence. More than 250 people have been killed in the conflict, with tens of thousands displaced. Arambai Tenggol identifies itself as a social outfit and wields considerable influence in the state, enjoying support from the Meitei community. The latest round of tensions began on June 7, when India's top investigation agency arrested Singh and four other leaders of Arambai Tenggol, following which he was taken to Guwahati city in the neighbouring state of Assam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating cases related to violence in Manipur, said that the trial for these had been shifted from Manipur to Guwahati in Assam 'in view of the law and order situation in Manipur'. After the arrests, protesters demanding the release of members of Arambai Tenggol stormed a police post, set fire to a bus and blocked roads in parts of Imphal. Some protesters also clashed with security personnel, The Hindu newspaper reported. A 13-year-old boy was injured after security forces fired tear gas shells and live rounds to disperse crowds, The Hindustan Times reported. State lawmaker Okram Surjakumar said the arrests had thrown the state into chaos. Following the violence, the state government suspended internet and mobile data services in five districts of the state for five days and imposed an indefinite curfew in one. Gatherings of four or more people has also been prohibited in the some parts. Arambai Tenggol has also declared a 10-day shutdown in parts of the state since Saturday night. Priyanka Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, on Sunday questioned why the government was unable to bring to peace to the conflict-hit state. Earlier this year, the Indian government brought the state under direct federal rule after the chief minister resigned following criticism from opposition groups. (Agencies)
