KANAM and Village Volunteers have demanded a full-scale NIA probe into Arambai Tenggol’s alleged involvement in organized crime and narcotics trafficking.
BY PC Bureau
Arambai Tenggol, an armed group that claims to be fighting for the preservation of Meitei culture and identity, has come under sharp criticism from the Kuki Alliance for Nampi Awakening Movement (KANAM) and the Village Volunteers – Eastern Zone of Manipur.
Both organizations have condemned Arambai Tenggol, rejecting its portrayal as a cultural or social outfit. Instead, KANAM has labeled it a violent, extremist, and fascist group responsible for ethnic cleansing, mass murder, and terror against the Kuki-Zo people.
“Their latest press release, dated March 10, 2025, is nothing but a desperate attempt at gaslighting the victims of their orchestrated genocide. The Government of India must recognize them for what they are: a militant Meitei supremacist outfit, no different from terror groups that seek to undermine national integrity through communal hatred and mob violence,” KANAM stated.
KANAM denounced Arambai Tenggol’s press release as a shameless distortion of truth, accusing the group of blaming the Kuki-Zo people for the very atrocities they have committed.
“They burned down over 200 Kuki-Zo churches, massacred civilians in cold blood, and displaced tens of thousands—yet they now cry victimhood over religious sites. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. They mourn damage to temples while celebrating the destruction of Kuki-Zo villages, churches, and lives. This is the behavior of terrorists, not peacekeepers.”
KANAM further accused Arambai Tenggol of engaging in open terrorism, alleging its collaboration with a Meitei-led state machinery that has torched Kuki-Zo villages and even attacked Indian security forces. KANAM dismissed the group’s “narco-terrorism” narrative as mere propaganda to justify ethnic cleansing.
ALSO READ: Arambai Tenggol Calls for Unity and Peace Amid Manipur Crisis
“The real drug lords in Manipur are Meitei insurgents, who control the drug trade with state complicity. We challenge Arambai Tenggol to undergo a full-scale NIA investigation into their own involvement in organized crime and narcotics trafficking.”
Expressing outrage that a group under investigation by the NIA for terrorism, targeted violence, and sedition is still allowed to operate freely, KANAM questioned:
“Is Arambai Tenggol above the law? Why is a fascist organization, accused of attacking security forces and undermining India’s sovereignty, still operating with impunity? The Government of India must take decisive action to curb their extremist activities before they push Manipur further into lawlessness.”
KANAM also condemned Arambai Tenggol’s “concern for temples”, calling it “the height of hypocrisy” when they have burned entire Kuki-Zo villages to the ground.
“Their version of ‘peace’ is nothing but the total subjugation of tribals under their fascist rule. Their words mean nothing—their actions have exposed them as terrorists in rainbow flags, pushing an anti-tribal, anti-democratic, and anti-India agenda.”
KANAM has demanded immediate action from the Government of India to dismantle Arambai Tenggol and prosecute its members under the UAPA and anti-terror laws.
ALSO READ: Opinion: Not Bullets and Bayonets—Manipur Needs Justice and Accountability
“Arambai Tenggol must be held accountable for their crimes against humanity. The Kuki-Zo people will not be erased, will not bow down, and will not stop fighting for justice,” Kanam said.
The Village Volunteers – Eastern Zone Flay Arambai Tenggol:
The Village Volunteers have issued a strong condemnation of Arambai Tenggol, accusing it of orchestrating targeted violence against the Kuki-Zo people under the influence of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and MP Leishemba Sanajaoba.
In a press statement released today, the group asserted that Arambai Tenggol was systematically created to persecute the Kuki-Zo community, citing a leaked audio recording of N. Biren Singh and statements made by Robin Mangang Kwairakpam, the PRO of Arambai Tenggol, as evidence.
The Village Volunteers claim that Arambai Tenggol had aimed to annihilate the Kuki-Zo population in Manipur, but their efforts were thwarted by the strong resistance of the Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers. They further criticized the group’s recent calls for peace and harmony, arguing that any such claims are meaningless unless Arambai Tenggol first surrenders the 6,000+ sophisticated weapons allegedly looted from state armories in the valley districts.
“To date, Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers have remained in a defensive position. However, if the Central Government continues to suppress our legitimate political demand for Separate Administration with legislative powers while favoring the state-sponsored militia Arambai Tenggol, we are fully prepared to launch an offensive response.”
Countering “Narco-Terrorism” Allegations
The Village Volunteers also rejected accusations of narco-terrorism, asserting that the real drug traffickers in Manipur are Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) operating in Myanmar and the Imphal Valley, including PLA, KYKL, KCP, and UNLF. According to the statement, these groups are deeply involved in the Golden Triangle drug trade, allegedly in collaboration with Manipur’s state ministers and MLAs, including N. Biren Singh.
Humanitarian Crisis in Manipur
Since May 3, 2023, over 200 churches and thousands of homes have reportedly been burned down in Imphal by Meitei mobs led by Arambai Tenggol, resulting in the deaths of over 200 Kuki-Zo people and leaving countless others injured or displaced.
“Following these atrocities, we have been physically, emotionally, and mentally purged from the Meitei majority. Therefore, we urge the Central Government to immediately grant Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people. Until our political separation from Manipur is secured, we will not lay down our arms.”
Call for Immediate Action
The Village Volunteers concluded their statement by reiterating their demand for Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people, arguing that it is the only viable solution to ensure their survival and safety in Manipur. They warned that failure to address their concerns could lead to escalated conflict, with the group ready to take offensive measures if their demands continue to be ignored by the Central Government.
KANAM & Village Volunteers’ Key Demands:
- Immediate disbandment of Arambai Tenggol and prosecution of its members under anti-terror laws
- A full-scale NIA investigation into Arambai Tenggol’s involvement in organized crime and narcotics trafficking
- Recognition of Arambai Tenggol as a Meitei supremacist terrorist organization
Immediate steps toward Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people
