The Homeme minister’s remarks came days after the NIA arrested three Arambai Tenggol members, reigniting debate over accountability, arms looting cases and the group’s role in Manipur’s ethnic conflict.
BY PC Bureau
June 23, 2026: Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam has triggered a fresh political storm after publicly advocating leniency for members of Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei organisation whose leaders are facing serious criminal investigations, even as security forces continue operations against armed groups in the state’s hill districts.
Speaking to reporters, Konthoujam said:
“We cannot forget the sacrifices our Arambai Tenggol sons made for our community. The government has discussed with the DGP and the Union Home Ministry to see to what extent their crimes and offences can be pardoned. We will ensure that the NIA, CBI and state police do not arrest any cadres of Arambai Tenggol in the future.”
The minister was addressing reporters at an Olympic Day event in Imphal. Konthoujam revealed that the government had held discussions with the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding ongoing operations and cases linked to Arambai Tenggol.
The minister also acknowledged that a number of weapons looted during the ethnic violence remain in circulation in the Imphal Valley and urged those in possession of them to surrender the arms voluntarily.
His remarks come days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three Arambai Tenggol members, sparking protests across parts of the valley and reigniting debate over the group’s role in Manipur’s ongoing ethnic conflict.
📢 A sit-in protest was held at Khwairamband Ima Keithel, with participants demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Arambai Tenggol members.#ImaKeithel #ArambaiTenggol #Manipur #SitInProtest #Imphal #PublicDemonstration #BreakingNews #PaomiToday pic.twitter.com/YkTSsoeA4K
— Paomi Today – Manipur (@PaomiToday) June 23, 2026
NIA Cases Against Arambai Tenggol Leaders
The statement has drawn strong criticism because Arambai Tenggol’s self-styled Commander-in-Chief, Korounganba Khuman, alias Tyson Ngangbam, remains under investigation in multiple NIA cases involving allegations of attacks on security forces, large-scale arms looting and other serious offences.
Kuki civil society organisations, including the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), argue that any move to shield members of the organisation from prosecution would undermine accountability and the rule of law.
The NIA is currently investigating Khuman in at least two major cases transferred to the NIA Special Court in Guwahati in November 2024 due to security concerns in Manipur.
In Case RC-03/2024/NIA/IMP, investigators allege that Khuman led an armed group to the Palace Compound in Imphal East on November 1, 2023. The group allegedly fired upon security personnel before advancing toward Imphal West. Charges include armed rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, dacoity, offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), violations of the Official Secrets Act and illegal possession of arms.
In Case RC-04/2024/NIA/IMP, Khuman and other accused are alleged to have attacked the 1st Manipur Rifles Battalion later the same day, vandalised government property and looted arms and ammunition before fleeing when security reinforcements arrived.
One accused, Mutum Rajesh Singh, has been arrested in connection with both cases. Khuman remains under investigation.
From Cultural Organisation to Armed Force
Founded in 2020 by Manipur’s titular king and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, Arambai Tenggol was initially projected as a socio-cultural organisation promoting Sanamahi traditions and Meitei identity.
However, following the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, critics and Kuki-Zo organisations allege that the group evolved into a heavily armed force that played a significant role in the conflict. The violence has claimed more than 260 lives, displaced tens of thousands of people and resulted in widespread destruction across the state.
Arambai Tenggol has rejected allegations linking it to attacks on civilians, maintaining that it emerged to protect Meitei interests during the conflict.
READ: Kuki-Zo Groups Allege SoO Violation, Block CRPF Cobra Unit’s Entry
Renewed Scrutiny
The organisation’s activities came under renewed scrutiny after the NIA arrested senior leader Kanan Singh, often described as its “army chief,” in June 2025. The arrest triggered widespread protests across the Imphal Valley, leading to curfews, internet shutdowns and clashes between protesters and security forces.
The police arrested Arambai Tenggol member Raj alias Boinao Pangeijam for allegedly firing at security personnel during the protests in Imphal West.
In the seocnd week of June last year, the police also arrested three members of the organisation in connection with the abduction and killing of 29-year-old Chesam Abdul Kadir, a differently-abled Muslim man whose body was later recovered from a riverbank area. The case has further intensified public scrutiny of the group.
Debate Over Accountability
The Home Minister’s remarks have intensified concerns over the state’s de-weaponisation efforts and raised questions about whether all armed actors are being treated equally under the law.
Kuki-Zo organisations have accused the government of applying different standards to different communities, while security experts argue that accountability for arms looting, attacks on security personnel and communal violence must be applied uniformly if public trust is to be restored.
More than three years after ethnic violence first erupted in Manipur, the state remains deeply divided. Against that backdrop, Konthoujam’s remarks have reopened a contentious debate over justice, political patronage and the future of peace-building efforts in the state.
