Manipur Imposes Curfew After Arrest of Armed Group Leader
Curfew and Internet Ban in Manipur
Manipur’s Bishnupur district is under an indefinite curfew. Authorities have also banned gatherings of five or more people in several districts. These include Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal East, and Imphal West. This happened after the arrest of a member from the armed Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol, in Imphal West.
Internet services are suspended in these five districts. All these districts are in the Meitei-dominated valley region of the state.
Arrest and Public Reaction
A joint team from the National Investigation Agency and Manipur Police arrested Kanan Meitei on Saturday evening. Kanan Meitei is known as the “army chief” of Arambai Tenggol. The arrest took place in Imphal West. Hundreds of residents tried to stop the police convoy and free him.
Police had to open fire to disperse the crowd.
Political and Agency Responses
On Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kh Ibomcha stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested Kanan Meitei. The central agency confirmed the arrest of an Arambai Tenggol member but did not name him.
Reports also indicated that Kanan Meitei had been handed over to the central agency.
Protests and Demands
Protestors burned tyres and blocked roads in parts of the state capital. These areas included Tiddim Road and Uripok in Imphal West district. They demanded the immediate release of Kanan Meitei.
Background on Arambai Tenggol
The Arambai Tenggol is accused of orchestrating violence against the tribal Kuki-Zo community. This violence started with the ethnic conflict in Manipur in May 2023. The conflict has resulted in at least 260 deaths and displaced over 59,000 people.
The National Investigation Agency is investigating the role of Arambai Tenggol’s chief, Korounganba Khuman. He is being looked into for an attack on security personnel on November 1, 2023, and for arms looted from a Manipur Rifles battalion on the same day.
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Weapon Surrender and Reactions
On February 27, the Arambai Tenggol surrendered 246 weapons to security forces. This was said to be the largest set of illegally-held weapons surrendered in Manipur since the conflict began.
However, two Kuki-Zomi groups dismissed this action. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum and the Committee on Tribal Unity called it a move to “garner sympathy and legitimacy.”
Further Reading
