Manipur on edge as protesters threaten self-immolation over arrest of ethnic militia leader

In Manipur’s capital Imphal, tensions erupted violently on June 7 night when a group of young men poured petrol on their heads, threatening to set themselves on fire in protest against the arrest of a key ethnic militia leader.

The detainee, Kanan Singh, heads the Arambai Tenggol (AT), a volunteer group of the Meitei community accused of involvement in the deadly Meitei-Kuki ethnic clashes that have ravaged the state.

The arrest triggered immediate unrest, with protesters blocking roads by burning tyres and gunfire reported by residents. Videos from the scene showed young men clad in black, clutching petrol bottles and declaring their readiness to kill themselves rather than submit to what they called “unjust” arrests.

Kanan Singh is suspected of orchestrating a February 2024 attack on a senior police officer’s residence and the officer’s subsequent kidnapping. Before joining the AT, Singh served as a head constable in a state police commando unit but was suspended for “dereliction of duty.” His arrest is part of ongoing investigations into violent incidents linked to ethnic militias.

In response to the unrest, authorities imposed a curfew and shut down internet services for five days across five districts — Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, and Kakching — to curb further escalation.

The protesters defended the AT’s actions, highlighting the group’s earlier surrender of firearms in February following orders from Manipur’s Governor AK Bhalla under President’s rule. AT members had also recently been visible in flood relief efforts, complicating the narrative around the group’s militant activities.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is simultaneously probing multiple cases involving the AT and its chief Korounganba Khuman.

Meanwhile, in the border town of Moreh, Kuki tribes have mobilized in protest against the arrest of Kamgingthang Gangte, a suspected insurgent leader linked to the Kuki National Army (KNA). Gangte faces allegations of killing a Manipur police officer with a sniper rifle in October 2023. The KNA is among insurgent groups that signed a suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the government but have been accused of violating its terms.

Police officials express growing concern over the resistance they face from both Meitei and Kuki communities during arrests, a symptom of the deep-rooted ethnic divisions that have paralyzed law enforcement.