In an interview to address two critical questions sharply thrown into focus by developments in recent weeks in Manipur, i.e. ‘Are Arambai Tenggol and UNLF a law unto themselves, defying the police and the state? And is the situation in Manipur worsening, not improving?’, Pradip Phanjoubam, one of Manipur’s most highly regarded journalists, analyses the situation as he sees it whilst “totally agreeing” that the situation in Manipur is worsening and not improving.
As you have probably guessed, this interview is about two extremist Meitei outfits (Arambai Tenggol and United National Liberation Front) both of which are very popular and held in high regard by the Meitei people. Therefore, as a Meitei himself, this is a tricky and difficult if not also potentially dangerous interview for Phanjoubam.
Phanjoubam is one of the very few Meitei intellectuals willing to speak about this issue, as quite a few people shy away from addressing Arambai Tenggol and UNLF.
