The outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) has blacklisted a Bihar trader Ranjeet Kumar Gupta from entering Manipur, citing violations of their tobacco ban and alleged links to immoral practices.
BY PC Bureau
The outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), a separatist and insurgent group based in Manipur, has imposed a permanent ban on the stay and entry of Ranjeet Kumar Gupta, a trader and restaurant owner from Bihar, into Kangleipak—the traditional name for the present-day state of Manipur.
In a statement issued by the outfit’s Information and Public Relations Secretary, M. Punsiba Meitei, the KCP accused Gupta of acting against the interests of the people of Kangleipak by continuing to supply banned smokeless tobacco products such as Talab, Shikhar, and Bombay Pan Masala, despite a strict prohibition imposed by the group on March 25, 2025. The ban was widely publicized through print and electronic media.
The KCP further alleged that Gupta was involved in immoral activities, specifically pointing to his restaurant, Kadak Chai, located in Mantripukhri, Imphal. The restaurant had previously been raided by Meira Paibi (women’s vigilante groups) in 2023 due to similar concerns.
As a result, the KCP has not only barred Gupta from entering Manipur but has also prohibited all his business operations within the state, including the closure of Kadak Chai. They have urged the public to dissociate from him and warned of severe consequences for any violations of this directive.
Informed sources hinted that the trader would have to either shut shop and leave Imphal or pay heavy ‘extortion” to the KCP to buy peace.
On 18.04.2025, security forces arrested 01(one) active cadre of KCP (Taibanganba) from Ningthoukhong Ward No.13 under Bishnupur-PS, Bishnupur District namely, Khwairakpam Amarjit Singh (27). From his possession, 01(one) no. of Mobile phone was seized. pic.twitter.com/JdMr7u3p7S
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) April 19, 2025
KCP: Extortionists in the Guise of “Moral Police”
The Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) is a banned insurgent organization primarily operating in Manipur. Its origins trace back to the late 1980s, with the stated goal of restoring Manipur’s sovereignty and independence. The group combines separatist ideology with Marxist-Leninist principles, aiming to challenge the political and cultural domination of Manipur by the Indian state.
Over the years, the KCP has fragmented into multiple factions, some pursuing political objectives while others have engaged in criminal activities such as extortion, arms smuggling, and targeted violence. The Indian government has designated the KCP as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
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Despite numerous security crackdowns, KCP factions remain active in Imphal and its surrounding districts, often working with other insurgent groups to enforce parallel “laws”, issue public threats, and carry out bomb scares and extortion drives.
State and Parallel Bans on Tobacco
The KCP’s recent crackdown on smokeless tobacco aligns with a similar move by the Manipur Health Department, which on October 22, 2024, issued a one-year ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, and consumption of gutka, pan masala, and other chewable tobacco products containing tobacco or nicotine. This action, enforced under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, aims to mitigate public health risks associated with tobacco use.
The official ban applies to products like khaini, zarda, and flavored tobacco, regardless of packaging. Several enforcement drives have resulted in seizures across Imphal East and West, underscoring the government’s commitment to tackling tobacco-related issues.
On a parallel front, the KCP also declared its non-negotiable and indefinite ban on smokeless tobacco products on March 25, 2025. The KCP has warned traders and consumers to comply or face severe consequences.
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