Manipur is experiencing renewed tensions as Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla conducted a security review meeting on Sunday amidst ongoing protests. These demonstrations erupted following the arrest of leaders from the Meitei outfit, Arambai Tenggol. In response to the escalating unrest, authorities have imposed prohibitory orders and suspended internet services in five districts within the Imphal valley.
The Governor also met with a delegation of 25 MLAs, comprising members from various political parties including the BJP, NPP, and the Congress. During the meeting, the legislators briefed Governor Bhalla on the prevailing law and order situation in the state, urging his intervention to help find an amicable resolution to the ethnic crisis. The Governor assured the delegation that all necessary measures were being taken to address their concerns and restore normalcy.
The protests, marked by clashes between demonstrators and security forces, have prompted the administration to take stringent measures. Prohibitory orders are now in effect in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts. Internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN facilities, have been suspended in these areas to curb the spread of misinformation and maintain order.
Demonstrators have been defying the prohibitory orders, engaging in acts of protest such as burning tires and furniture on roads in areas like Uripok and Koirengei in Imphal West district, and Khurai in Imphal East. In Koirengei, protesters dug up roads and created soil heaps to impede the movement of security forces. Similar agitations have also been reported in the Jiribam district, which borders Assam.
Adding to the complexities, BJP legislator K. Ibomcha, a member of the delegation that met with the Governor, stated that five individuals have been arrested in connection with earlier incidents of violence, which have fueled the recent protests. Among those arrested, one was apprehended by the CBI. The CBI has confirmed the arrest of an Arambai Tenggol member at Imphal Airport on Sunday, citing his alleged involvement in criminal activities related to the Manipur violence in 2023. However, details regarding the other four arrests have not been disclosed by the police.
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced the arrest of three insurgents linked to a deadly attack on security forces in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, which occurred on January 17, 2024. The attack resulted in the deaths of two police commandos and injuries to several others. The NIA identified Thangminlen Mate, allegedly a key planner from the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (KIT) group, as one of the arrested individuals. He was apprehended in Silchar, Assam, on May 19. Additionally, Kamginthang Gangte of the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Hentinthang Kipgen, also known as Thangneo Kipgen, associated with the Village Volunteers group, were arrested in Imphal on June 6.
The situation in Manipur remains tense, with ongoing protests and security measures in place to maintain law and order. The state government is working to address the concerns of the public and restore normalcy while also dealing with the complexities of the arrests and investigations related to past and present violence.
