A State on the Edge: The arrest of Arambai Tenggol’s leader sparked fresh violence, yet security forces barely responded. In contrast, Kuki-Zo women protesting peacefully have been met with bullets. This glaring disparity is deepening Manipur’s crisis.
BY Navin Upadhyay
June 11, 2025 — The recent unrest in Manipur, triggered by the June 7 arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh, has once again laid bare a troubling double standard in the state’s handling of protests. While violent demonstrations by the Meitei-led Arambai Tenggol in the valley districts were met with restraint, Kuki-Zo protests in Saibol (December 2024) and Kangpokpi (March 2025) were met with brutal crackdowns involving tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live ammunition. This glaring disparity calls for urgent reckoning: under President’s Rule since February 2025, Manipur’s administration must now adopt a firmer stance to disarm and dismantle Arambai Tenggol, ending the impunity that undermines the state’s moral and legal authority.
A Tale of Two Responses
On June 7, the arrest of Kanan Singh—“Army Chief” of the Meitei militia Arambai Tenggol and a former head constable dismissed in March 2025 for cross-border arms smuggling—sparked widespread violence across five valley districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. Singh’s detention, along with five other AT members, unleashed chaos throughout the Meitei-dominated valley.
Arambai Tenggol declared a 10-day bandh. Protesters—many clad in AT’s signature black T-shirts bearing the red horseman emblem—blocked arterial roads like Tiddim and Uripok, torched a bus in Khurai Lamlong, and set fire to two security force vehicles on Airport Road. In Kwakeithel, residents reported hearing up to 50 rounds of gunfire.
At the height of the unrest, AT supporters stormed a police outpost in Kwakeithel, demanding Singh’s release. During the clashes, Additional SP Wangkhomba Okramcha was physically assaulted while trying to manage the crowd, sustaining injuries that required medical treatment. Meanwhile, in Imphal East, protesters—some identified as AT members—stoned an Army major near the airport, forcing his unit to retreat under a barrage of rocks. Most brazenly, AT cadres opened fire on security forces in Khurai, creating a war-like atmosphere with smoke from tear gas mingling with gunfire.
Yet, despite the scale of the violence and open defiance, the response from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Manipur Police remained notably restrained. Force was limited primarily to tear gas, and official reports logged only three injuries—including two journalists—despite the extensive arson, assaults, and attacks on security personnel.
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
Contrast this with the treatment of Kuki-Zo protests. On December 31, 2024, in Saibol village, Kangpokpi district, Kuki-Zo women blocked security forces from occupying community bunkers, fearing collaboration with Arambai Tenggol. The response was swift and brutal: security forces fired rubber bullets, injuring over 50 women, including 45-year-old Heshi Mate, who lost an eye. Of course, the protesters were far from peaceful and the District SP was injured, but the response was nothing akin to what the security forces showed in dealing with Arambai Tenggol.
Similarly, on March 8, 2025, Kuki-Zo women in Gamgiphai, Kangpokpi, protested the Centre’s “free movement” order on National Highway 2, fearing it would benefit Meitei militias. Security forces responded with tear gas, chilli bombs, and live fire, killing 30-year-old Lalgouthang Singsit and injuring others, including Thangjangam Haokip, who sustained multiple pellet wounds. A CRPF minibus was set ablaze, but the focus remained on suppressing Kuki-Zo protesters, not addressing their grievances.
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This disparity is stark. Arambai Tenggol’s protests face kid-glove treatment, while Kuki-Zo demonstrations are met with lethal force.
Arambai Tenggol’s Reign of Impunity
Arambai Tenggol, initially a Meitei cultural revivalist group, has morphed into a heavily armed militia, accused of ethnic cleansing, extortion, and looting over 6,000 weapons from state armories since May 2023. Despite arrests—such as six members in January 2025 for kidnapping and three in December 2024 for extortion—the group operates with impunity, bolstered by alleged patronage from former CM N. Biren Singh and BJP MP Leishemba Sanajaoba. A January 2024 oath-taking ceremony at Kangla Fort, where Arambai Tenggol forced the state government to accept a six-point charter, underscored its unchecked power.
The Manipur administration, backed by the Union Home Ministry, must prioritize:
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Mass Disarmament: Launch joint operations with the Indian Army and CRPF to recover the remaining 3,500+ looted weapons, targeting Arambai Tenggol’s strongholds in Imphal Valley.
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Prosecution of Leaders: Arrest and detain key figures like Korounganba Khuman, ensuring they face trial for extortion, violence, and property seizures, as mandated by Supreme Court orders.
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Independent Oversight: Establish a monitoring committee, including civil society representatives, to investigate police bias and ensure equitable treatment of all communities.
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Community Dialogue: Facilitate talks between Meitei and Kuki-Zo leaders, addressing demands like separate administration without militia interference.
Manipur’s descent into lawlessness cannot be curbed while Arambai Tenggol operates with impunity—so much so that they could attack an Army major and Additional SP and fire at security forces. The administration’s soft touch—evident in the restrained response to the June 7 protests—contrasts sharply with the brutal crackdowns on Kuki-Zo demonstrators in Saibol and Kangpokpi. This double standard not only undermines justice but also deepens ethnic divides, pushing Manipur closer to anarchy. Stronger intervention to disarm and dismantle Arambai Tenggol is not just a security imperative; it is a moral necessity to restore peace and dignity to a state torn apart by violence. The Centre must act now or risk Manipur becoming a permanent scar on India’s conscience.
