Imphal: In the aftermath of a violent clash in Manipur’s Imphal East district, the police have arrested six individuals, including four militants from the banned United National Liberation Front (Pambei) [UNLF-P] and two members of the radical Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol (AT).
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, left four UNLF-P members injured and escalated tensions in the area.
The arrested AT members were identified as Kshetrimayum Nikhil Singh (28) and Yumnam Pringanba Singh (23).
According to officials, the clash unfolded when 15–20 members of AT stormed the residence of UNLF-P militant Irengbam Nandakumar Singh (56) in Kongpal Chingangbam Leikai, leading to the assault and injury of four UNLF-P cadres, who are now receiving medical treatment.
Following the violence, security forces conducted a series of raids in the Khurai area, seizing significant items from an AT office.
The recovered materials included three vehicles, 15 grams of suspected heroin, eight bulletproof plates, three wireless handsets, two swords, an INSAS bayonet, two .303 bayonets, and other incriminating documents.
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The controversial Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol, has been under scrutiny for its role in ethnic violence involving the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities since May 2023.
In a bid to ease tensions, cadres of the group had returned 246 firearms and a large cache of ammunition to authorities last month, following an appeal by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for the return of looted and illegal arms.
