Imphal: Tensions flared in Manipur’s capital late Saturday after the arrest of a senior leader of the Meitei youth group Arambai Tenggol, triggering dramatic street protests and a fresh wave of unrest in the violence-scarred state.
A viral video from Imphal showed a group of angry young men dousing themselves in petrol and threatening to set themselves ablaze. The self-destructive protest, according to eyewitnesses, was in response to the arrest of Kanan Singh, a prominent figure in Arambai Tenggol, earlier that afternoon.
Local sources said Singh and four others were detained around 2:30 p.m., reportedly by central security personnel. While there is no official confirmation, speculation is rife that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may have been involved in the operation.
Manipur is exploding.
NIA arrest triggers Imphal protests.
CRPF opens fire. Curfew fails.
India’s Northeast is slipping fast.Wake up, Delhi.#Manipur #ManipurViolence #Imphal pic.twitter.com/ZSTY0ktoMc
— THE SQUADRON (@THE_SQUADR0N) June 7, 2025
Youth Pour Petrol, Spark Chaos
By nightfall, protestors dressed in black T-shirts gathered in Imphal’s Kwakeithel and Uripok areas, blocking roads and staging sit-ins. In the video widely shared on social media, one protester is heard saying: “We gave up arms. We helped during floods. Now you arrest us? We will end our lives.”
The footage shows several young men holding plastic bottles filled with petrol, pouring it over their heads and clothes, while warning police not to provoke them. Moments later, tyres and furniture were set ablaze on city streets.
The Kwakeithel Police Outpost in Imphal West was soon overwhelmed by crowds demanding the release of the arrested men. Police fired multiple rounds into the air to disperse the gathering. Loud gunshots were heard in the vicinity, adding to the panic.
At least three individuals were injured in the ensuing chaos, including two journalists covering the protest and one local resident, officials said.
Curfew Reimposed, Internet Blacked Out
Manipur Police announced a fresh curfew in Imphal and surrounding areas early Sunday, citing concerns over escalating violence. Mobile internet services were also suspended once again across the valley districts to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Security reinforcements have been deployed across sensitive zones as tension continues to simmer.
Spotlight on Arambai Tenggol
Arambai Tenggol, a volunteer-based outfit drawn from the Meitei community, rose to prominence during last year’s ethnic clashes with the Kuki-Zo tribes. The group claims to work for community welfare but has often faced allegations of vigilante-style actions and instigating violence—charges it consistently denies.
The latest flashpoint underscores the fragile peace in Manipur, where ethnic and political fault lines remain deeply entrenched nearly a year after the initial outbreak of violence.
