Beyond its former socio-cultural facade, Arambai Tenggol’s true, dangerous character was laid bare by the anarchy in Imphal. The group’s brazen firing on security forces and mob actions underscore its transformation into a formidable armed militia, openly challenging state authority.
BY PC Bureau
June8, 2025: –Manipur’s capital, Imphal, plunged into unprecedented chaos late Saturday evening, forcing authorities to impose sweeping curfews and a five-day internet blackout, following the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) arrest of Arambai Tenggol’s self-styled “Army Chief,” Kanan Singh, and four senior members. In a dramatic and deeply concerning display of alleged political patronage, Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular King of Manipur and a sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP, was captured on video pleading with security forces to release the detained militants, even as their cadres unleashed a wave of street violence including threats of self-immolation.
READ: Imphal Under Curfew, Internet Cut After Arambai Tenggol Chief’s Arrest Sparks Riots
The arrests, linked to grave charges of arms looting, kidnapping, and arson, immediately ignited widespread protests. The escalating unrest has now intensified calls for the apprehension of Arambai Tenggol’s Commander-in-Chief, Korounganba Khuman, who faces far graver charges across multiple NIA cases, yet remains at large. His continued freedom, amidst accusations of significant political backing, critically underscores the pressing need for his arrest to restore public faith and law and order in the strife-torn state.
Arambai Tenggol (Meitei Militia) Chief arrested from Imphal town, protesters have fired upon and burnt public properties in retaliation. He was in NIA list of wanted for snatching police arms from police station and other arson activities including Kidnapping of DYSP of Manipur… pic.twitter.com/jZxJCiRRjQ
— Maj Digvijay Singh Rawat, Kirti Chakra (@Dig_raw21) June 7, 2025
Streets Ablaze: A Night of Fury and Desperation
As dusk fell over Manipur’s capital on Saturday, Imphal transformed into a searing battleground, gripped by an explosive surge of street violence. The air, thick with the acrid stench of burning tires and gasoline, vibrated with enraged shouts and the chilling crackle of sporadic gunfire. Hundreds of Arambai Tenggol cadres, their black uniforms stark against the dimming light, swarmed into the streets, joined by masses of Meitei civilians and determined Meira Paibi women protesters. Their fury was a raw, visceral force. Vehicles, abandoned and quickly engulfed, became fiery effigies, their burning husks spewing black smoke that choked the night sky. Protesters erected impromptu barricades from torched furniture and debris, carving out pockets of defiance in the heart of the city’s Kwakeithel and Uripok areas.
Arambai Tenggol (Meitei Militia) Chief arrested from Imphal town, protesters have fired upon and burnt public properties in retaliation. He was in NIA list of wanted for snatching police arms from police station and other arson activities including Kidnapping of DYSP of Manipur… pic.twitter.com/jZxJCiRRjQ
— Maj Digvijay Singh Rawat, Kirti Chakra (@Dig_raw21) June 7, 2025
Amidst the chaos, a horrifying spectacle unfolded: desperate Arambai Tenggol members, in a chilling act of defiance, were seen dousing themselves with kerosene and petrol. Their faces contorted with resolve, they uttered dire threats to self-immolate, to become living torches if their arrested leaders were not released by morning. This desperate act, a stark display of their fervor, sent shivers through eyewitnesses and underscored the extreme volatility authorities now face.
READ: Arambai Tenggol Leader Arrested in Imphal; Protests, Clashes Erupt
Security forces, though acting with restraint, deployed tear gas canisters that hissed and popped, releasing stinging clouds that momentarily dispersed the agitated crowds, only for them to reform with renewed intensity. At least three security personnel and several civilians, including two journalists caught in the melee, sustained injuries amidst the relentless stone-pelting and raw aggression. Roads became impassable arteries, choked by blockades and the lingering scent of burnt rubber and simmering rage.
READ: Opinion: Why NIA Must Nab Arambai Tenggol “Commander” Now
Sweeping Curfews and Internet Blackout Imposed
In response to the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation, the state government moved swiftly to impose stringent measures. District Magistrate Dr. Nivedita Lairenlakpam issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, imposing an indefinite curfew in Imphal West, effective 6:00 PM on June 7. Similarly, District Magistrate Pooja Elangbam in Bishnupur revoked earlier curfew relaxations, reimposing a total curfew from 11:00 PM on June 7 until further notice. By 11:45 PM, indefinite curfews were extended across five valley districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching.
Arambai Tenggol (Meitei Militia) Chief arrested from Imphal town, protesters have fired upon and burnt public properties in retaliation. He was in NIA list of wanted for snatching police arms from police station and other arson activities including Kidnapping of DYSP of Manipur… pic.twitter.com/jZxJCiRRjQ
— Maj Digvijay Singh Rawat, Kirti Chakra (@Dig_raw21) June 7, 2025
Further, to curb the spread of inflammatory content online, the state government enacted a stringent five-day internet and mobile data ban, including VSAT and VPN services, across all of Manipur. The Manipur Police and CRPF intensified combing operations to apprehend additional miscreants, while the Indian Army bolstered its presence in sensitive areas.
The riots that engulfed Imphal’s streets on June 8 peeled back the last remnants of Arambai Tenggol’s carefully crafted façade as a cultural revivalist group. In the flames, gunfire, and orchestrated chaos, the group’s true nature stood exposed—a militarized force ready to plunge the state into lawlessness to protect its leadership. The coordinated violence, the threats of self-immolation, and open confrontations with security forces weren’t acts of spontaneous protest—they were the actions of an organization emboldened by political shelter and unafraid of state consequences. This was not cultural pride on display, but militant coercion in its most dangerous form.
READ: Manipur Titular King Stands up for Militants as Imphal Burns
