The fragile peace in Manipur has been shattered once again as widespread protests erupted and continued overnight, defying stringent prohibitory orders and internet shutdowns, following the arrest of a prominent leader of the Meitei organization, Arambai Tenggol. The detention of Asem Kanan Singh, identified by the CBI as an “army chief” of the group, and four other individuals on Saturday evening, triggered an immediate and volatile reaction across the valley districts.
Reports from various parts of Imphal and surrounding areas depict a scene of intense unrest. Protesters, including women’s groups, took to the streets in large numbers, engaging in torchlight processions, burning tires to block roads, and clashing with security forces. The intensity of the demonstrations forced authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in key valley districts including Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. Furthermore, internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN, were suspended for five days, a measure often resorted to by the administration to curb the spread of misinformation and prevent further escalation of violence.
Eyewitness accounts detail confrontations between agitated crowds and security personnel in areas like Kwakeithel and Singjamei in Imphal West, where tear gas shells and rubber bullets were reportedly fired to disperse the protestors. The Sub-Divisional Collector (SDC) Office at Yairipok Tulihal in Imphal East district was partially set ablaze, destroying official records, and underscoring the severe nature of the unrest. Demonstrators also created earth mounds on roads in Sekmai and Koirengei to impede the movement of security forces, highlighting the organized nature of some of the protests.
The arrest of Asem Kanan Singh by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is cited as the immediate catalyst for the current turmoil. The CBI stated that Singh was apprehended at Imphal airport in connection with “various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023.” He has since been taken to Guwahati for further investigation and will be produced before a competent court for police remand. The shifting of Manipur violence cases to Guwahati for trial, due to the prevailing law and order situation, has been a contentious issue.
An all-party delegation of MLAs and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba met with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to discuss the volatile situation. While the Governor clarified that Singh’s arrest was in connection with a CBI case, the delegation pressed for public disclosure of the reasons behind the arrests, stating that the detentions had caused widespread panic.
The recent outbreak of protests adds another grim chapter to Manipur’s ongoing ethnic conflict, which began in May 2023 and has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands. The state has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The current defiance of prohibitory orders underscores the deep-seated grievances and anxieties within the Meitei community, further challenging efforts to restore lasting peace and normalcy in the northeastern state. The situation remains tense, with security forces on high alert as the state grapples with this renewed wave of agitation.