Manipur: Eight Arambai Tenggol volunteers arrested for assaulting police officer
Short Summary of the News
On July 9, 2025, Manipur Police arrested eight volunteers from the Meitei socio-cultural outfit Arambai Tenggol, who allegedly assaulted an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) and his team during a bandh in Bishnupur district on June 9. The violent mob at Nambol Thongkha attacked the ASP and personnel while they were dispersing the crowd, causing injuries. The bandh had been called after the CBI arrested Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan. The Bishnupur police registered a suo motu FIR under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including obstruction of duty and assault on public servants. Initial arrests included six volunteers; two more—Ngangom Nganthoi (18) and Asem Amujao (18)—were added on June 15, bringing the total to eight
Weaving the Narrative: Understanding the Bishnupur Arrests and What They Mean
Let me take you deep into the thick of Manipur’s current situation—a volatile mix of law, politics, and cultural identity. So, eight volunteers from the self-styled cultural group Arambai Tenggol were arrested. Sounds direct, but there’s a layered story here—one of identity, authority, and unrest. Buckle up, because this is Manipur in full color.
1. Wild West Bishnupur: What Happened That Day?
Picture a busy town road in Nambol Thongkha, Bishnupur district, suddenly blocked—not by festive decorations, but by a bandh enforced by vigilantes. The barricade was part of the shutdown called after leader Asem Kanan’s arrest. Police—forcefully trying to clear the road—send the ASP and his escort. The crowd turned aggressive. Stones flew. Shots rang (tear gas, mock bombs, live rounds). In the mayhem, the ASP was knocked down, and one team member got a head injury .
Understanding this isn’t just event-reporting—it’s seeing a microcosm of the conflict between state authority and vigilante power.
2. Meet Arambai Tenggol: More Than Meets the Eye
Ever heard of vigilante groups with political color? That’s Arambai Tenggol. Formed in 2020 and led by Manipur’s titular king MP, Leishemba Sanajaoba, it proudly wears traditional symbols and claims to revive Sanamahism, the pre-Hindu Meitei faith. But beneath cultural revival beats a radical heart
They’ve grown—armed, organized, even alleged to have looted weapons from armouries during the 2023 riots. Critics point to their militant structure and direct involvement in violence—church attacks, ethnic targeting, roadblocks, and confrontations with security forces . Political patronage? Definitely. They’ve been blamed for shaping public order—or disorder—depending on who you ask.
3. The Bandh, the Mob, the Melee
The bandh on June 9 wasn’t random. It was a direct reaction to the arrest of Asem Kanan, an influential Arambai Tenggol leader whose detention resulted from a CBI probe into 2023 violence . Shops shut down, banners went up, and the streets filled—not with peaceful protestors but with vigilante enforcers. And when police tried to intervene, things escalated quickly.
Notably, the mob’s shift from an “enforcing bandh” role to physically assaulting public servants crossed a serious line. Assaulting an ASP is no small feat—it signals a challenge to state monopoly on force.
4. The Arrest Wave: Who, When, and Legal Recourse
Here’s the roll call of those arrested:
- Laishram Sanahal Singh @ Sana (26) – Govindagram Awang Leikai, Imphal West
- Kangabam Nongdamba Singh (23) – Terakhongsangbi, Bishnupur
- Laishram Premchand @ Kandrang (18) – Govindagram Awang Leikai
- Laishram Rishikanta Singh (20) – Govindagram Awang Leikai
- Sarangthem Rabichandra @ Rabi (28) – Kangmong Maisnam Leikai
- Yumnam Jaswant Singh (22) – Lourembam Maning Leikai
- Ngangom Nganthoi (18) – Langpok Makha Leikai, Bishnupur
- Asem Amujao @ Jackson (18) – Nambol Makha, Bishnupur
The firings—under FIR No.39(6)2025 NBL-PS—span a range of charges: obstruction, assault on public labour, unlawful assembly, and attempt to cause serious harm, per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
FAQs
Why were these eight volunteers arrested?
Police allege they assaulted an ASP and his team during the June 9 bandh in Nambol Thongkha, injuring officers while dispersing protesters
What is the bandh protesting?
The shutdown was in response to the CBI arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh over his alleged role in the 2023 violence .
. Are these arrests politically motivated?
There are claims both ways—some view them as legal enforcement, others see selective targeting. But registering an FIR and making arrests is at least a legal step .
. Can this de-escalate tension?
It can—if legal processes are fair and inclusive. But sustainable peace needs deeper dialogue, justice for all communities, and structural reforms.
