In a shocking ordeal in Manipur’s Imphal (West), additional superintendent of police (operations) M. Amit was battered and kidnapped by unnamed assailants, believed to be from the radical Metei faction Arambai Tenggol. His frightening experience concluded favorably as a police search and rescue operation, led by high-ranking officials, managed to recover him after a tense two-hour mission.
The violent scenario unfolded with forceful entry and confrontation by the group at the officer’s residence, during which an AK47 was seized from an inspector, and the officer’s driver sustained serious facial injuries. This confrontation stemmed from an earlier crackdown on certain members of Arambai Tenggol, promoting an aggressive demonstration by local women activists and resulting in the subsequent abduction of the additional SP as he returned to his residence amidst the chaos.
Arambai Tenggol, a group formed in 2020 that has since evolved from its cultural origins to become an armed operation with increasingly bold actions, has been charged with a swath of violent acts including church arson and looting. Their recent brazen move commanded attention as they summoned legislative representatives to Kangla Fort and exacted an oath highlighting their political demands.
This incident at the additional SP’s home, alongside a ferocious gunfight that damaged personal property and involved intense gunfire, comes during an uptick in hostilities in Manipur. The skirmishing between the Meiteis and Kukis has led to significant loss of life, displacement, and a strain on localized governance, revealing the depth of the centuries-old ethnic friction in the region. Now, Arambai Tenggol is seen by some as a formidable power, commanding significant control over local affairs.