Manipur: Violence Erupts in Valley Districts After Arrest of Arambai Tenggol Leader Kanan Singh 

New Delhi: Tensions flared in Manipur’s capital on Saturday night (June 7) after police arrested Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh along with four other members. The arrest triggered widespread violence across Imphal in that state which is currently under president’s rule.

Angry mobs took to the streets, tearing down or setting fire to multiple police barricades. Many in the crowd appeared to be members or supporters of Arambai Tenggol, a radical Meitei group. Several vehicles were set ablaze during the violence, though the exact number is yet to be confirmed by authorities.

At least eight members of Arambai Tenggol were also injured in the clashes on Saturday night and are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Imphal.

According to sources who spoke with The Wire, there was even an attempt by supporters to forcibly rescue Singh from the custody of security personnel during the arrest operation. However, the security forces managed to retain control and completed the arrests.

Militant group Arambai Tenggol has been named in multiple FIRs related to violence, looting,and murder, with several of these cases now under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Initially launched as a Meitei cultural revivalist group, Arambai Tenggol has evolved into a heavily armed radical militia, operating with growing impunity in the valley.

It is now seen as the third major armed outfit in Manipur, following in the footsteps of long-established insurgent groups like the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), both of which have historically pursued Meitei separatist agendas through armed struggle and underground networks.

Sources in Imphal also told The Wire that Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, joined by several other MLAs, rushed to the Raj Bhavan today following these arrests. The BJP’s state leadership is reportedly disappointed with the central leadership over the handling of the situation. 

Singh was taken into custody by the CBI and brought to Guwahati from Imphal for further investigation while four others were arrested by the state police, as they were found accompanying him at the time of the operation. Singh was working as Head Constable before joining Arambai Tenggol.

Violence and Arambai Tenggol

Arambai Tenggol has played a key role in shaping the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, drawing comparisons to earlier insurgent formations in the region. Analysts have warned that its rise marks a dangerous shift in the Northeast’s militant landscape, with its ideology, organisation and tactical aggression bearing hallmarks of a new model of conflict mobilisation.

Based in the state capital Imphal, the group has not only operated openly but was also reportedly allowed to meet with top political figures including Governor Ajay Bhalla, former chief minister N. Biren Singh and BJP MP Sanajaoba, who has openly expressed support for the group

Members of Arambai Tenggol with Biren Singh. Photo: Facebook/Korounganba Khuman.

Additionally, Arambai Tenggol have also been accused of taking over Kuki properties in the valley, in open defiance of Supreme Court orders. 

Power Struggle

Despite having a majority and growing demands from civil society groups in Imphal, the BJP has failed to form a stable government in Manipur. A major reason behind this is the strong public demand for the arrest of certain members of the Arambai Tenggol group. Without this, the government cannot gain the trust of the Kuki community or bring them on board to form a unified administration.

All 10 Kuki MLAs, including 7 from the BJP, have withheld their support for the current government. Arresting those responsible was seen as a crucial step toward restoring confidence. The next potential development could be the arrest of Arambai Tenggol chief Korounganba Khuman, as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently probing multiple cases against him.

Curfew and internet shutdown

A curfew has been imposed across five valley districts of Manipur and mobile internet services have been completely suspended for five days following the unrest.

While central Imphal remains under tight security control, surrounding areas and other valley districts have witnessed escalating unrest. Protesters, many of them young men, have blocked roads by burning tyres and, in some areas, obstructed the movement of security forces.

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