Arambai Tenggol

This article is about an armed militia of the Meitei people. For the eponymous ancient Meitei weapon, see Arambai.

Arambai Tenggol
Founded2020[1]
FoundersLeishemba Sanajaoba[2]
TypeMeitei organisation
HeadquartersImphal
Area served
Imphal Valley, Manipur, India
Chairman
Leishemba Sanajaoba[3]
Head
Tyson Ngangbam[4] ("Korounganba Khuman")[5]
Volunteers50,000[6]–60,000[7]
Meetei Mayek
This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

Arambai Tenggol (Meitei for "dart wielding cavalry")[8] is a Meitei activist organisation in the Indian state of Manipur founded by Manipur's titular ling and Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba,[9][10] who also remains as its chairman.[3][11] Arambai Tenggol has been described as a radical organisation,[12][13] or as a radicalised armed militia.[14] It is also a revivalist organisation that aims to reestablish the pre-Hindu, native Sanamahi religion among the Meiteis.[15] It enjoys the patronage of Sanajaoba as well as the chief minister N. Biren Singh.[16] During the 2023–2024 Manipur violence, members of the Kuki-Zo community blamed it for having carried out deadly attacks against them.[17][18] In January 2024, the organisation demonstrated its influence by summoning all the elected Meitei legislators of the state for a meeting to deliberate on the defence of Meiteis in the prevailing conflict.[19][20]

Etymology

"Arambai Tenggol" is a Meitei language name, which is translated as "dart wielding cavalry".[8] Tenggol (Meitei: ꯇꯦꯡꯒꯣꯜ, romanized: /teŋ.gol/) means a troop or a platoon in Meitei language.[21] Arambai (Meitei: ꯑꯔꯥꯝꯕꯥꯏ, romanized: /ə.ram.bai/) is a dart-like weapon,[22] that was used by Manipuri kings.[23]

Organisation

Arambai Tenggol is said to have been active since 2020. Starting as a cultural outfit, it soon turned into a radical organisation.[1] It became popular around 2022,[23] with Meitei youth increasingly organising themselves under its banner.[24]

The organisation enjoys political patronage at high levels in the state. As per the members of the group, Manipur's titular king and Rajya Sabha MP, Leishemba Sanajaoba, is their founder and leader. The oath-taking ceremony of the group in September 2022 was held at Sanajaoba's house. The organisation posted pictures of meetings with the titular king as well as the chief minister N. Biren Singh.[3] According to one of its commanders, the organisation regards itself as the equivalent of the warriors that once served the Meitei kings.[7] It has regularly countered protests against the state government, including the chief minister's "war on drugs" campaign, which targeted the tribal communities.[23][a]

The members of the organisation wear a uniform with black T-shirts bearing a red insignia of three horsemen charging into battle.[26][27] They are organised into "units", resembling an organised militia. The organisation quadrupled in size in the course of 2023–2024 Manipur violence, going up from 12 units in June 2023,[3] to 60 units in April 2024.[7][b] Otherwise frustrated youth were attracted through videos depicting proud displays of weapons with background music and provocative insults targeted at the Kuki people.[7] The organisation is now said to have 60,000 members.[7]

An All India Congress Committee politician in charge of the state mentioned at the beginning of the violence that the members of Arambai Tenggol were seen moving around in groups of hundreds on motor-bikes with guns. He said that the organisation was modelled after RSS and Bajrang Dal in the rest of India.[29] The Kuki Students Organisation said that Arambai Tenggol members used to arrive in hundreds under the guise of conducting health and wellness campaigns, but only to intimidate the tribals. Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum spokesperson said that they took out multiple rallies to the Mizoram border with the intention of intimidating the tribals on the route.[30][c]

Revivalist activities

Salai Taret flag

Arambai Tenggol flies the "Salai Taret" flag, representing the traditional seven clans that are believed to have merged making up the present-day Meitei community.[3][26] The use of the flag has prominently grown in the Valley in recent years.[31] The activists of Arambai Tenggol are often seen marching down highways or market areas, chanting slogans on restoring the glory of the old Manipur kingdom.[26]

Promotion of Sanamahism, the traditional faith of the Meitei community, has been a key activity of the group. The growth of Christianity is seen as a threat and the group aims to "bring people back" to Sanamahism.[3][26] Meitei pastors have alleged forced conversion of Meitei Christians to Sanamahism.[26] In April 2023, Arambai Tenggol activists stormed the house of a pastor for having allegedly made a blasphemous remark about Sanamahism.[32][33] In December 2023, a pastor in Imphal West found the Christmas decorations in front of his house vandalised, and the next day, an alleged activist of Arambai Tenggol came to disperse the village committee meeting, opened fire, and attacked the pastor, leaving him hospitalised.[26]

2023–2024 Manipur violence

Prior to the eruption of 2023–2024 Manipur violence, Arambai Tenggol was seen organising blockades on the roads leading to hill districts, and then seen leading the mobs in the Imphal city once the violence started.[7] Its activists reportedly entered police stations and police training centres, looting their armouries, setting fire to churches, and then looting villages and causing widespread havoc.[29][34] According to the Kuki civil-society organisation Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), Arambai Tenggol leaders openly brandished sophisticated weapons, looted from state armouries, and pressed their cadres to attack Kuki-Zo tribals. It complained that no action was being taken against them by the security forces.[35]

On 28 May, militants of surrendered insurgent groups were seen operating under the Arambai Tenggol banner, engaging in a fierce gunfight with 37 Assam Rifles at Serou, in the Sugnu area.[36]

Arambai Tenggol cadres also wore stolen uniforms of Manipur police commandos. Journalists noticed them in this attire during an attack on the town of Pallel in September 2023.[37] These men were also given safe passage by the state police, indicating a nexus between the organisation and the state forces.[38]

Arambai Tenggol was blamed for the killing of a 55 year-old Naga woman on 16 June, blowing her head into bits through continuous fire of gun shots. The militants remarked, "No more head. This way of killing is nice".[39][40] It is said that the woman was first apprehended by Meira Paibis and then handed over to Arambai Tenggol for execution.[41]

Armed men in police commando uniforms were again involved in operations in the border town of Moreh in January 2024. They are reported to have set fire to eight Kuki houses, two churches and three schools. The Print has examined CCTV footage to confirm the residents' testimony.[42]

Kangla fort meeting

Soon after the Moreh incidents, Kuki militants staged a series of attacks in the foothill regions of the Imphal Valley, causing the death of seven people in 48 hours, raising a significant alarm in the Meitei community.[43] Arambai Tenggol grew concerned about the "safeguarding the Meitei community", and summoned all the elected Meitei legislators in the state, including ministers, to a meeting at the Kangla Fort on 24 January. It warned that anybody failing to attend the meeting would be labelled an "enemy of Meitei".[19][20][44]

Union Home Ministry sent a team of negotiators from Delhi to hold discussions with Arambai Tenggol. Discussions were held over two days in the house of the titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba under the "royal flag".[45][46] The group's demands included the construction of a National Register of Citizens for Manipur (in order to identify alleged illegal immigrants) and the abrogation of Suspension of Operations agreements with Kuki militant groups.[47]

On 24 January, the meeting was attended by 37 state legislators (MLAs) and two parliamentarians (MPs). After taking an oath to perserve the integrity of Manipur, the attendees signed a six-point demand and vowed to communicate it to the central government.[1][48] There were reports that the legislators that did not agree to the programme were beaten up, and others were intimidated with threats.[48][49] Two legislators belonging to the BJP and one belonging to Indian National Congress, its state president K. Meghachandra, were reportedly assaulted.[7][50] The Kuki-Zo civil society organisations across the state condemned the exercise, calling it a submission of government authority to an "armed militant group."[50][51][28]

Notes

  1. ^ The chief minister has told media that the trigger for the 2023–2024 Manipur violence was "his government's war on drugs, implementation of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and identification of illegal immigrants".[25]
  2. ^ In January 2024, a meeting at the Kangla Fort for the state's legislators was handled by the "58 unit".[28]
  3. ^ The route to the Mizoram border passes through the Churachandpur district, home to many Kuki-Zo communities.

References

  1. ^ a b c Manipur ministers and MLAs meet Arambai Tenggol members: Who are the radical Meitei group?, The Indian Express, 24 January 2024.
  2. ^ Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, Manipur Tapes: CM's Brother, Arambai Tenggol Founder's Threats To 'Traitors' Who Leaked Tapes to 'Enemy' Contradict Biren's 'Doctored' Claim, The Wire, 24 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Saikia, Arunabh (6 June 2023). "Armed gangs and a partisan state: How Manipur slipped into civil war". Scroll.in.
  4. ^ Angana Chakrabarti, Manipur’s BJP CM inflamed conflict: Assam Rifles report on India violence, Al Jazeera, 15 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Writ petition by Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi in the Supreme Court of India" (PDF). scoobserver.in. 2023.
  6. ^ PTI, Security Tightened In Imphal As Manipur Ministers To Meet This Key Group, NDTV News, 23 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Kuthar, Greeshma (15 April 2014), "Saviour Complex: Why the Biren Singh government gives a free hand to Arambai Tenggol", The Caravan
  8. ^ a b Saikia, Arunabh (6 June 2023). "Armed gangs and a partisan state: How Manipur slipped into civil war". Scroll.in. Arambai Tenggol means "dart-wielding cavalry" – a reference to traditional Meitei warriors. Embossed on the back of the outfit's uniform of black T-shirts are three pony-riding warriors.
  9. ^ Angshuman Choudhury, Arambai Tenggol: How a Meitei ‘sociocultural organisation’ became an armed-to-the-teeth militia, Frontline, 30 May 2024.
  10. ^ Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, A Lowdown on the Electoral Contest in Two Lok Sabha Seats of Restive Manipur, The Wire, 2 April 2024.
  11. ^ Haksar, Nandita (2023), Shooting the Sun, Speaking Tiger, p. 64, ISBN 9789354477034
  12. ^ Yaqut Ali, For ‘Defaming Meiteis,’ Vigilante Groups Force Apology From Former Cop, Vandalise Activist’s House, The Wire, 6 October 2023.
  13. ^ Vijaita Singh, Home Ministry rushes team to Manipur; Meitei MLAs call for ‘positive action’ from Centre, The Hindu, 22 January 2024.
  14. ^ Arunabh Saikia, The return of Meitei insurgents marks a new turn in Manipur conflict, Scroll.in, 2 September 2023. "In the first month of hostilities, according to officials, Kuki insurgent groups played a pivotal role in organising fighting in the hills, but the Meiteis were largely reliant on radicalised armed militias such as the Arambai Tenggol and the state police constabulary, in addition to youth volunteers."
  15. ^ Syed Firdaus Ashraf, 'Biren Singh's BJP government is playing with fire in Manipur', Rediff News, 18 May 2023.
  16. ^ Greeshma Kuthar (31 July 2023), "Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur", The Caravan, Mobs led by Arambai Tenggol—a Meitei militia that enjoyed the patronage of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including the chief minister, Biren Singh, and Manipur's titular king and Rajya Sabha MP, Leishemba Sanajaoba—were scouring the city, looking for Kukis in passing cars, in houses and in hostels.
  17. ^ "Probe role of CM, Rajya Sabha MP in fuelling violence: Manipur tribal body". The Hindu. 31 May 2023.
  18. ^ "'Were chased out... managed to reach Delhi... not everyone as fortunate': ST panel member from Manipur". The Economic Times. 1 June 2023. During a press conference on Wednesday, the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi claimed Kuki-Zomi-Mizo-Hmar tribes have been subjected to unrelented ethnic cleansing carried out by Meitei radicalised extremist groups -- Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun.
  19. ^ a b Karishma Hasnat, Noren Ningombam, ‘You are not here to observe but to protect’ — Manipur CM Biren Singh slams central forces, The Print, 22 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b AT invites Meitei MLAs, The Sangai Express, 20 January 2024.
  21. ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (definition of "Tenggol")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 82. Retrieved 2 August 2023. tenggol ꯇꯦꯡꯒꯣꯜ /teŋ.gol/ n. a troop, platoon, etc. ~ sā- /~ sa/ v. to encamp, as of during a war. Morph: ~ sā- [~ to make].
  22. ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (definition of "Arambai")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 11. Retrieved 2 August 2023. arāmbāi ꯑꯔꯥꯝꯕꯥꯏ /ə.ram.bai/ n. a dart-like weapon.
  23. ^ a b c Vijaita Singh, Ten Kuki MLAs from Manipur demand ‘separate administration’, The Hindu, 12 May 2023.
  24. ^ Ranjan Solomon, BJP’s Communal Politics Has Deepened Historical Conflicts in Manipur, The Wire, 7 June 2023.
  25. ^ Bhabesh Sharma, Manipur violence was planned years ago to press for separate nation: N Biren Singh, The Times of India, 21 October 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Makepeace Sitlhou, Greeshma Kuthar, While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence, New Lines Magazine, 27 December 2023.
  27. ^ Jon Suante, Unpacking the ethnic violence in Manipur: The impact of social media and newly formed civil societies, India Today NE, 6 June 2023.
  28. ^ a b Arunabh Saikia, In Imphal, the state’s surrender to an armed Meitei militia with ‘Taliban-like’ grip, Scroll.in, 26 January 2024.
  29. ^ a b Lahiri, Ishadrita (11 May 2023). "'Organisations on lines of RSS, Bajrang Dal have been formed in Manipur,' says Congress". ThePrint.
  30. ^ Manufacturing ethnic segregation and conflict: A report on the violence in Manipur, All India Lawyers Association for Justice, August 2023, p. 73
  31. ^ Javed Parvesh, Ground report from Manipur: How ethnic strife has become brutal war, The Weeek, 16 July 2023.
  32. ^ Youths storm house of pastor in Manipur, Nagaland Post, 3 April 2023.
  33. ^ Manipur: From Demand For NRC, Blasphemy, Arms Looting To Miss India Pageant, The Frontier Manipur, 22 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Probe involvement of 2 radical Meitei groups in Manipur pogrom: tribal student bodies". The Hindu. 19 May 2023.
  35. ^ Manipur government trying to eliminate tribal population, we want separate administration: ITLF, NE Now, 7 November 2023.
  36. ^ "Gunfight erupts between Arambai Tenggol militants and 37 Assam Rifles in Manipur". India Today NE. 30 May 2023.
  37. ^ PTI, Manipur: Death Toll in Pallel violence rises to three with one more succumbing to injuries, The Telegraph (India), 9 September 2023.
  38. ^ Greeshma Kuthar, The Manipur Police gives safe passage to gunmen shooting at Kuki village near Pallel, The Caravan, 12 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Manipur brutality on Naga woman: 'No more head. This way of killing is nice'". The Telegraph (Kolkata). 7 August 2023.
  40. ^ "Manipur Naga body announces shutdown after woman's killing". The Hindu. 16 June 2023.
  41. ^ Sukrita Baruah, Jimmy Leivon, ‘Disturbing’: Naga woman’s killing puts tense Manipur on the edge, The Indian Express, 19 July 2023.
  42. ^ Sourav Roy Barman, Burnt houses, schools — Manipur commandos ‘led arson spree’ in Moreh, Myanmar fire dept ‘came to rescue’, The Print, 21 January 2024.
  43. ^ Yaqut Ali, With 7 Killed in 48 Hours, Opposition Again Calls on Modi to Address the Violence in Manipur, The Wire, 19 January 2024.
  44. ^ Manipur: Security tightened as radical group ‘summons’ Meitei MLAs, The Indian Express, 24 January 2024.
  45. ^ PTI, Security Tightened In Imphal As Manipur Ministers To Meet This Key Group, NDTV News, 23 January 2024.
  46. ^ MHA team meets Arambai Tenggol chief, Imphal Free Press, 24 January 2024.
  47. ^ Phurailatpam Keny Devi, Manipur: 3-member special MHA team meets Meitei organisation, demand for NRC put up, India Today NE, 23 January 2024.
  48. ^ a b On Arambai Tenggol’s watch, 37 legislators, 2 MPs take Oath in a ‘Historic Day’ at Kangla Fort, Ukhrul Times, 24 January 2024.
  49. ^ Ananya Bharadwaj, What happened at Kangla Fort meeting between Arambai Tenggol & MLAs-MPs it had ‘summoned’, The Print, 25 January 2024.
  50. ^ a b Manipur Congress chief assaulted in meeting with Arambai Tenggol at Kangla in Imphal: Jairam Ramesh, The Hindu, 25 January 2024.
  51. ^ Manipur govt submitted authority to militant group, President’s Rule must: ITLF, Northeast Now (NENow), 25 January 2025.
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