Manipur Police Arrest Six Arambai Tenggol Members for Assault During Bandh

Manipur Police arrested six members of Arambai Tenggol

Tensions in Manipur’s Bishnupur district escalated as the Manipur Police arrested six members of Arambai Tenggol on July 8, 2025, for their alleged involvement in a violent assault on police personnel during a bandh on June 9, 2025. The arrests mark a significant step in addressing the unrest that has gripped the state amid ongoing ethnic conflicts and protests. The incident, which left an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) and his escort team injured, has raised concerns about public safety and the role of vigilante groups in the region.

The arrested individuals, identified as Laishram Sanahal Singh, 26, Laishram Rishikanta Singh, 20, Laishram Premchand, 18, all from Govindagram Awang Leikai in Imphal West district; Kangabam Nongdamba Singh, 23, from Terakhongsangbi Ward No. 2, Bishnupur district; Sarangthem Rabichandra, 28, from Kangmong Maisnam Leikai, Imphal West district; and Yumnam Jaswant Singh, 22, from Lourembam Maning Leikai, Bishnupur district, were apprehended following a thorough investigation by the Bishnupur police. The arrests bring the total number of Arambai Tenggol members detained in connection with this case to eight, as two others, Ngangom Nganthoi, 18, and Asem Amujao, 18, both from Bishnupur district, were arrested on June 15, 2025.

The assault took place at Nambol Thongkha in Bishnupur district during a 10-day statewide bandh called by Arambai Tenggol, protesting the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) arrest of their leader, Asem Kanan, on June 8, 2025. Kanan, a former head constable dismissed from the Manipur Police in March 2025 for alleged criminal activities, including arms smuggling, was detained at Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. His arrest sparked widespread protests across Manipur’s valley districts, with demonstrators blocking roads using burning tires, wooden planks, and debris, severely disrupting daily life.

On June 9, Additional SP Wangkhomba Okramcha and his team were patrolling Tiddim Road (NH-150) to assess the law-and-order situation when a mob of Arambai Tenggol supporters reportedly attacked them. The protesters, armed with stones and slingshots, targeted the police convoy, injuring the ASP and a member of his escort team. Initial reports suggested a service weapon may have been snatched during the chaos, but police later clarified it had fallen from a holster and was recovered by a local women’s group in Nambol.

The Bishnupur police registered a suo motu case under FIR No. 39(6)2025 NBL-PS, invoking multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to obstruction of duty, assault on public servants, unlawful assembly, and attempt to cause grievous hurt. The case underscores the growing friction between security forces and Arambai Tenggol, a group that claims to represent Meitei interests but has faced accusations of engaging in anti-social activities, including extortion, assault, and arms looting.

For the residents of Bishnupur, the incident has deepened fears about safety and stability. “We just want peace,” said Thoi, a 34-year-old shopkeeper in Nambol Bazar, whose business was shuttered during the bandh. “These protests and clashes make it hard for us to live normally. We’re caught in the middle.” The bandh, which paralyzed Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Jiribam, disrupted markets, schools, and government offices, leaving families like Thoi’s struggling to make ends meet.

Arambai Tenggol, which emerged as a significant force during the ethnic violence that began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, has been a polarizing presence. While the group positions itself as a defender of Meitei interests, critics, including local authorities and civil society groups, accuse it of operating like a militia, with over 60 units across Meitei-dominated districts. The group has been linked to looting over 5,000 weapons from police armories in the early days of the conflict, many of which remain unrecovered.

The June bandh was called off on June 10 after Arambai Tenggol leader Khwairakpam Robin Mangang cited public hardship, but not before significant damage was done. Protesters had torched vehicles, dug up roads, and clashed with security forces, prompting curfews and internet suspensions across five valley districts. The unrest also saw attempts at self-immolation and threats from Arambai Tenggol’s leadership, including Kourungamba Khuman, who posted provocative messages online.

The arrests have reignited debates about the group’s influence and the state’s ability to maintain law and order. “These young men are part of our community, but their actions are tearing us apart,” said RK Sanajaoba, a community elder in Imphal West. “The police are doing their job, but we need dialogue, not more violence.” Sanajaoba’s sentiment reflects the exhaustion felt by many in Manipur, where over 260 people have died and thousands have been displaced since the ethnic conflict began.

The Manipur Police have vowed to continue their crackdown on those involved in criminal activities, with a statement urging the public, especially youth, to avoid unlawful acts that could jeopardize their futures. Security forces, including the Assam Rifles and Indian Army, have been deployed to prevent further escalation, with combing operations ongoing in sensitive areas.

As Manipur grapples with this latest wave of unrest, the arrests of Laishram Sanahal, Rishikanta, Premchand, Kangabam Nongdamba, Sarangthem Rabichandra, and Yumnam Jaswant highlight the challenges of balancing community grievances with the rule of law. For families in Bishnupur and beyond, the hope is for a resolution that brings lasting peace to a state long plagued by division.