Meitei man held for ‘firing’ at security personnel, 19 detained for violence

A member of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol was apprehended for allegedly firing at security personnel during the recent protests in Manipur over the arrests of a leader of the organisation and four others, the police said on Wednesday.

Nineteen others were also detained for their alleged involvement in violence during demonstrations in Imphal.

Meanwhile, former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who held meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, on Wednesday said that the Centre wanted installation of a popular government in the state.

Manipur is currently under President’s Rule after Singh resigned as the chief minister in February.

Singh, along with Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, had gone to New Delhi on Monday to brief central leaders about the current situation in the state, where ethnic violence has left at least 260 people dead and rendered thousands homeless since May 2023.

The Centre’s current priority is to bring about reconciliation between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos, sources have said, ruling out the possibility of any immediate removal of the President’s rule in the state.