Manipur: Amid Intensified Violence, Arambai Tenggol ‘Summons’ Meitei MLAs

In a statement, the Superintendent of Police, Imphal West, said that Arambai Tenggol members have planned to enter Kangla fort with arms before the meeting.

(Photo: Borun Thokchom/The Quint)

Video Editor: Nitin Bisht

In the wake of intensified violence on security personnel and civilians by suspected militants in Moreh town and Bishnupur of conflict torn-Manipur, the radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol issued “summons” to Meitei MLAs, including CM N Biren Singh, for a meeting at Imphal’s Kangla Fort on Wednesday, 24 January.

After the meeting, the leader of Arambai Tenggol, Korounganba Khuman, addressed the public at Imphal's Ema Market, unveiling a set of six demands. These included the termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO), the enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Manipur. The leader revealed that key figures, including the chief minister, ministers, MLAs, and MPs, were all present at the meeting, collectively endorsing the memorandum to be sent to the central government.

In a statement, the Superintendent of Police, Imphal West, said that Arambai Tenggol members had planned to enter Kangla Fort with arms before the meeting.

According to the SP's statement, police officers and personnel of the Army/Assam Rifles have been deployed in and around Kangla for the same.

This comes two days after a three-member special team from the Ministry of Home Affairs reached the state on Monday to mediate peace talks between both Meiteis and Kukis.

The team, headed by AK Mishra, the interlocutor for the Naga peace talks and SoO (Suspension of Operations) groups, includes Mandeep Singh Tuli and Rajesh Kumble, Joint Directors of the Special Intelligence Bureau in New Delhi and Imphal, respectively.

Meanwhile, on 24 January, an Assam Rifles jawan near the Indo-Myanmar border allegedly fired at his colleagues before shooting himself dead. But the Assam Rifles have clarified that this incident is unrelated to the violence in the state. Further details are awaited.

Additionally, on 21 January, CM Biren Singh, while addressing the 52nd Statehood Day parade, held at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles parade ground in Imphal, expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the central security forces were approaching the crisis in Manipur.

“You (Central forces) are not invited to observe what is going on. You are invited to protect the integrity of the state and life and properties of [the] innocent people. We are Indians,” he asserted.