Meitei leader’s arrest triggers fresh unrest in Manipur; vehicles torched, curfew-like curbs, Net ban in 5 districts

Fresh unrest erupted in Manipur on Sunday following the dramatic arrest of members of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol and its leader Kanan Singh by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The arrests triggered widespread protests and violent clashes across the Imphal valley.

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In response, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended Internet services across five key districts to prevent further escalation.

Kanan Singh, believed to be a prominent leader of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meiti activist group, was picked up from Imphal airport in the early hours of June 8. CBI officials confirmed that Singh is a prime suspect in several cases related to the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur and had been under surveillance for months.

Also read: Manipur MLAs call on Governor, claim Meitei outfit member among 5 arrested

“He was wanted in multiple cases, including the attack on the house of Additional SP Moirangthem Amit and the officer’s brief abduction in February 2024,” said a senior CBI officer. The arrested accused Singh, who served as a head constable with the Manipur Police commando unit before being suspended, was reportedly leading several armed vigilante actions in recent months.

Following his arrest, Singh was immediately flown to Guwahati, where violence-related cases from Manipur are being tried, in accordance with Supreme Court orders shifting the venue outside the state for impartial proceedings.

The news of Singh’s arrest spread rapidly across Imphal, sparking a massive outcry among the Meitei community. Within hours, protesters stormed the streets, blocking roads, burning tyres, and even torching vehicles near the Raj Bhavan. Near Kangla Gate, barely 200 metres from the Governor’s residence, the protest turned volatile, forcing security forces to fire multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In a disturbing development, several young men poured petrol on themselves, threatening self-immolation to demand Singh’s immediate release — a grim sign of the deepening anger within the community.

Fearing a breakdown in law and order, the Manipur administration quickly clamped prohibitory orders in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts. Mobile Internet, broadband, VSAT, and even VPN services have been suspended across these areas for the next 48 hours as a precautionary measure.

“The situation remains tense. The Internet suspension is necessary to prevent the spread of inflammatory content and rumours that may incite further violence,” a senior official from the Home Department said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Manipur MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday, urging him to intervene and restore calm. The Governor assured the delegation that “all necessary steps” were being taken to maintain order and address the people’s grievances.

Later, the Governor convened a high-level security meeting with senior administrative, intelligence, and police officials to take stock of the ground situation and evaluate response strategies.

The arrest of Kanan Singh has once again exposed the volatile political climate in Manipur, a state still reeling from 2023 communal clashes that left over 200 dead and thousands displaced.