Political patronage exposed: A viral video shows Manipur’s titular King intervening for Arambai Tenggol militants, hours after NIA arrests sparked riots and self-immolation threats. This dramatic escalation highlights deep political-militia ties and the fragile peace in the state.
BY PC Bureau
– June 8, 2025 – In a dramatic and deeply concerning display of political patronage, Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular King of Manipur and a sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP, was captured on video Saturday evening pleading with security forces to release five members of the radical Meitei militia, Arambai Tenggol. The appeal came hours after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested the group’s self-styled “Army Chief,” Kanan Singh, and four senior members, triggering an unprecedented wave of violence across Manipur’s capital.
Hundreds of Arambai Tenggol cadres and their supporters, including Meitei civilians and Meira Paibi women protesters, went berserk in the streets. They set fire to tires, doused themselves with kerosene and petrol threatening self-immolation, and brazenly fired at security personnel. The rapidly escalating unrest forced authorities to impose an indefinite curfew across five valley districts – Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching – effective 6:00 PM on June 7. A stringent five-day internet and mobile data ban (including VSAT and VPN services) was also enacted statewide to prevent the spread of inflammatory content.
Royal Intervention Amidst Arson and Gunfire
The viral video shows Sanajaoba, visibly agitated and dressed in a white kurta with a saffron scarf, confronting security forces near the Kwakeithel Police Outpost. “If this continues, arrest me and another MLA as well!” he declared, his voice charged with urgency as he demanded the immediate release of the detained Arambai Tenggol “volunteers,” specifically naming leader Kangabam Lenin Singh among them.
RS MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has been seen negotiating for Arambais arrested by the NIA for their role in instigating Manipur violence. In India’s democracy, MPs, as legislators, are tasked with lawmaking, not executive functions like negotiating for arrested terrorists. @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/hzHPzWZ5XR
— Jalhai Haokip (@hatjalhai) June 7, 2025
The NIA’s crackdown targeted the militia’s alleged involvement in serious crimes, including the kidnapping of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and the large-scale theft of over 6,000 weapons from state armories since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. The detained individuals reportedly include Kanan Singh, Volen, and Marcus, among others. The operation also led to the recovery of various arms and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and included arrests of members from banned groups like the Kangleipak Communist Party, signaling a broader effort to curb militancy.
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By dusk on Saturday, Kwakeithel and Uripok areas transformed into battlegrounds. Protesters erected road blockades, burned furniture and tires, and even stormed the Kwakeithel Police Outpost. Witnesses reported protesters dousing themselves with petrol, threatening self-immolation as a desperate measure to pressure authorities. Sporadic gunfire erupted against security forces, who responded with tear gas and minimal force to disperse the violent crowds. At least three security personnel and several civilians, including two journalists, were reported injured in the clashes.
Sanajaoba’s high-profile intervention, far from calming the situation, appeared to embolden the protesters, starkly highlighting the militia’s deep political ties and influence within Manipur’s elite. This is not the first instance of Sanajaoba’s public alignment with the group; on April 13, 2025, at the closing ceremony of the First Arambai Tenggol Football Tournament in Imphal West, he lauded the group, warning they would “be ready to defend [Meitei] land” if threats arose—a statement widely perceived as a veiled threat against the Kuki-Zo community.
Political Implications and Deepening Crisis
The Manipur government, grappling with the escalating unrest under President’s Rule following former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, faces an immense challenge. The protests underscore the volatile ethnic tensions that have gripped Manipur since May 2023, claiming over 260 lives and displacing tens of thousands.
Arambai Tenggol, formed in 2020 and widely believed to have been founded by Sanajaoba, has rapidly grown into a formidable force. Accused of orchestrating widespread violence against Kuki-Zo communities and looting police armories, the group enjoys significant support among sections of the Meitei community but faces strong allegations of operating as a “parallel government” in Imphal. The NIA’s aggressive pursuit of the militia’s activities has only heightened tensions, exacerbated by accusations from Kuki-Zo groups of selective inaction by the state against Arambai Tenggol.
Manipur Rajya Sabha MP L.Sanajaoba @MaharajaManipur went to the Govenor to request for the release of Aramabai Tenggol Army Chief Kanand Singh who was arrested by security forces this evening.This prove the radicalised militia are backed by him & Ex CM Biren Singh pic.twitter.com/Oxzk0GXQoZ
— Jangmin Touthang (@JangminTouthan1) June 7, 2025
Social media platforms like X quickly reflected the deep societal divisions, with some users alleging political motives behind the unrest and linking it to the state’s political vacuum. Others vehemently condemned the militia’s actions, calling for stronger central intervention to address Manipur’s spiraling violence.
As security forces deployed in greater numbers on Sunday morning, Imphal remained under a tense lockdown. Schools are closed, markets shuttered, and the acrid smell of burnt rubber hangs heavy in the air. Authorities have urged calm and warned of strict action against those inciting violence. The situation underscores the fragile security landscape in Manipur, where entrenched ethnic and political fault lines continue to threaten stability and the prospect of lasting peace. Sanajaoba’s public actions have laid bare the complex interplay of politics and militancy, further complicating efforts to restore normalcy.
