Manipur Protesters Pour Petrol On Heads, Threaten Self-Immolation After Arambai Tenggol Leader’s Arrest

Dramatic scenes unfolded in Manipur’s Imphal on Saturday night as protesters poured petrol on their heads and threatened self-immolation following the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh. Videos circulating on social media show young men in black t-shirts holding petrol bottles while declaring their intention to “end their lives” in protest against the detention of their leader by security forces.

The shocking footage emerged as violent protests erupted across Imphal, with demonstrators setting fire to roads, torching vehicles, and engaging in confrontations with security personnel. The unrest prompted authorities to impose curfew in Bishnupur district and issue prohibitory orders across four other valley districts, while internet services remain suspended for five days.

In the viral protest videos, one demonstrator was heard saying, “We gave up our weapons. We helped during the floods like we were supposed to. Now you’re arresting us. We’ll end our lives.” The protesters, identified as members of the Meitei volunteer group Arambai Tenggol, were wearing black t-shirts and carrying bottles filled with petrol.

The arrest of Kanan Singh triggered immediate and widespread unrest across Imphal, with large crowds gathering and the situation rapidly deteriorating. Singh is the main accused in the February 2024 attack on Additional Superintendent of Police Moirangthem Amit’s house and a subsequent kidnapping incident.

Roads were set ablaze as protesters demanded their leader’s immediate release, shouting slogans and blocking major thoroughfares with burning tyres. The violence escalated quickly, with approximately 50 gunshots heard in the area as security forces struggled to control the chaos.

During the overnight violence, angry mobs targeted security infrastructure, setting fire to two buses and a jeep belonging to security forces. Several CCTV cameras at major traffic intersections were also destroyed, hampering surveillance capabilities in the tense areas.

Kanan Singh, a former head constable in the state police commando unit, was suspended from his position for neglecting duty following his alleged involvement in the February attack. His arrest appears to have been coordinated by multiple security agencies as part of ongoing investigations into violence in the region.

The Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei volunteer organization, has been at the center of ethnic tensions in Manipur. The group has previously been accused of attacking Kuki villages during the ongoing ethnic clashes that have plagued the state since May 2023.

Security forces have been deployed in large numbers to contain the situation, with additional reinforcements rushed to sensitive areas. The administration’s decision to suspend internet services across Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts reflects the gravity of the law and order situation.

The current unrest adds to the mounting challenges facing Manipur, which has been grappling with ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities for over a year. The conflict has resulted in more than 200 deaths and displaced thousands of residents across the state.

The February 2024 incident that led to Singh’s current troubles involved an attack on a senior police officer’s residence, highlighting the complex relationship between state security forces and local volunteer groups during the ongoing ethnic crisis.