Two Arambai Tenggol Members Arrested Following Clash with UNLF Militants in Manipur

PTI, IMPHAL, MARCH 24, 2025 :  Two members of the Meitei radical outfit Arambai Tenggol were arrested in connection with a clash involving the UNLF (Pambei) militants in Manipur, police said on Monday. The confrontation occurred on Saturday afternoon when around 15-20 members of Arambai Tenggol reportedly barged into the residence of UNLF militant Irengbam Nandakumar Singh in Kongpal Chingangbam Leikai. There, they attacked insurgents from the Imphal Valley-based UNLF faction.

During the clash, four UNLF (Pambei) militants sustained blunt force injuries, and both sides fired a few rounds, prompting security forces to rush to the scene. While four UNLF militants were apprehended, the attackers managed to flee the spot.

Following an operation on Sunday, two members of Arambai Tenggol, identified as Kshetrimayum Nikhil Singh (28) and Yumnam Pringanba Singh (23), were arrested in connection with the attack. Police confirmed that "raids are ongoing to arrest other accused" involved in the incident.

In the wake of the clash, security forces raided an office of Arambai Tenggol in Khurai and seized a range of items, including three four-wheelers, 15 grams of suspected heroin, eight bulletproof plates, three wireless handsets, an INSAS bayonet, two .303 bayonets, two swords, and other incriminating documents.

Arambai Tenggol, which had previously been involved in clashes with Kuki village volunteers, had surrendered their firearms in February following a call from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

Meanwhile, in separate operations across the state, five militants were arrested with arms and ammunition. Three cadres from the banned PREPAK (PRO) were arrested on Sunday in Kumbi Terakhong, Bishnupur district. They were identified as Oinam Abung Meitei (31), Yumlembam Romesh Singh (47), and RK Navy Meitei (32). Authorities recovered a .303 LMG, two .303 LMG magazines, and 20 rounds of ammunition from them.

Additionally, another PREPAK (PRO) member was arrested from Mantripukhri Bazar in Imphal East district. Identified as Md Taj Khan @ Romen (37), he was accused of extorting local shops. A member of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Shagolshem Prabin Singh (27), was arrested from Ningomvam Lamkhai in Imphal West district for his involvement in extorting transport vehicles.

Since May 2023, ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the adjoining hill-based Kuki-Zo groups has led to the deaths of more than 250 people and displaced thousands. A delegation of Supreme Court judges visited the strife-torn state on Saturday, urging the people to work together to restore peace and harmony. Justice BR Gavai, who led the delegation, expressed hope that the "current difficult phase" would soon be over with the cooperation of the executive, legislature, and judiciary, and that the state would prosper like the rest of the country.