The National Investigation Agency has formally taken over the probe into the February 2024 looting of arms from the 2nd IRB battalion. With Kana Singh’s recent arrest, the spotlight is now firmly on Arambai Tenggol. Is this the beginning of a major crackdown?
By PC Bureau
July 20, 2025–On the night of February 13, 2024, a violent mob stormed the 5th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp at Chingarel Tezpur in Imphal East, Manipur. What followed was one of the most audacious arms heists in the state’s recent history. Military-grade weapons were seized, including four INSAS rifles, one AK-47, SLR magazines, and thousands of 9mm rounds.
After prolonged institutional inertia, and unanswered questions, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally taken charge of the probe. The timing of the NIA’s involvement is crucial. The central government’s decision—acting on fresh directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs—strongly suggests a new seriousness in investigating Arambai Tenggol, the shadowy militia group widely suspected to be involved in the raid.
The decision by the NIA suggests an emerging readiness to tighten the screws on groups linked to the widespread violence and arms proliferation in Manipur.
On the night of February 13, 2024, a mob overran the 5th IRB camp, overpowering guards and making off with a substantial cache of military-grade weapons. The looted arms included four INSAS rifles, one AK-47, SLR magazines, and 16 boxes of 9mm ammunition. This was no random act; its systematic and aggressive nature, coupled with hints of insider complicity, immediately raised alarms. While six men were arrested within days and some weapons recovered, the true masterminds remained elusive.
READ: Supreme Court to Hear `Explosive’ Biren Audio Case Tomorrow
The arms loot bore the unmistakable signature of Arambai Tenggol, a self-styled Meitei “cultural” group with overt paramilitary characteristics. Their involvement in previous arms heists is well documented, and their so-called commander-in-chief, Korounganba Khuman, stands accused in multiple such incidents, along with charges of attempted murder and orchestrated violence. Yet, until now, authorities had conspicuously refrained from officially naming the group. That silence shows sign of ending.
This is korounganba Khuman, C-in-C of militant group Arambai tenggol. The group has challenged all Central forces including the NIA against his arrest. pic.twitter.com/XquOUsI9kP
— Singh (@Duorope) June 17, 2024
The timing of the NIA’s intervention is crucial. The recent arrest of Kanan Singh, a key Arambai Tenggol operative, adds another layer to the unfolding investigation. While public records haven’t directly linked him to the Tezpur arms raid, his apprehension, coupled with the NIA takeover, strongly suggests a deepening probe into Arambai Tenggol’s broader network of arms proliferation and violent activities. The Centre’s activation of its premier counter-terror agency after nearly 18 months of apparent inertia speaks volumes.
Why This Matters Now
Manipur has been grappling with widespread ethnic violence since May 2023, during which over 5,000 weapons and lakhs of rounds of ammunition have been looted. Many of these stolen arms have since been used in targeted attacks, particularly against the Kuki-Zo community. Suspicions also point to groups like the PLA and other Meitei insurgent organizations running training camps with these illicit weapons. The Chingarel Tezpur case, while just one incident in this disturbing pattern, has now become a focal point for the NIA.
This decisive action makes it clear: Arambai Tenggol is no longer a fringe outfit. It is now officially under national scrutiny.
READ: KZC Hits Back: German-Tiger Roads “Humanitarian Lifelines, Not Drug Corridors”
There’s a dual interpretation to this development. With Manipur still reeling from inter-ethnic clashes and the Centre facing mounting criticism over its perceived silence on Meitei militia activities, the NIA intervention could be seen as a move to placate growing national and international scrutiny. However, it unequivocally places Arambai Tenggol in the crosshairs, marking a significant shift in the government’s stance.
If the NIA’s mandate is followed through without dilution or derailment, the Chingarel Tezpur probe could become a landmark case, potentially exposing the intricate nexus between civilian mobs, arms looters, and organized militia activity in Manipur.
For months, a critical question has loomed over Manipur: Who truly controls the state—the government, or militias operating under the guise of cultural groups? If Arambai Tenggol is allowed to evade justice, it could implicitly communicate that some mobs are indeed “more equal than others,” undermining faith in the rule of law.
