Imphal: Kuki militant leader involved in murder of senior poLice officer in Manipur arrested by NIA on June 6 late evening. The arrested militant was the mastermind behind an ambush on state police commandos, marking a significant development in the ongoing unrest in Manipur. Meanwhile, the administration has imposed curfews and restrictions in five districts after violent protests in some valley areas in Manipur. Arrested Kuki militant Kamginthang Gangte, also known as K Guite was in the top list of investigating agencies for the killing of a Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Moreh town.
He was captured at Mandoi Veng, under the Moreh Police Station in the Tengnoupal district, during a joint operation by the Assam Rifles and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to officials, incriminating documents, a magazine, and a 9 mm handgun were found in his possession.
Official sources claim that Gangte is the suspected mastermind behind the October 31, 2023, sniper-shot death of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anand, who was in charge of helicopter landing arrangements at Eastern Ground in Moreh. Following Anand’s murder, Kuki militants allegedly carried out a deadly ambush between the villages of Sinam and Bungyang, injuring three Manipur Police commandos.
Curfew in valley districts
Manipur saw a new round of violence overnight, especially in the valley areas after the arrest of Arambai Tenggol, leader. Unsettling images of mobs fighting with security guards and burning cars were shared on social media from East and West Imphal. The state government responded by enforcing a complete curfew in the district of Bishnupur and limiting movement and gatherings in the districts of Thoubal, Kakching, Imphal East, and Imphal West. With security forces on high alert, authorities have asked citizens to stay inside and keep the peace.
The violent outburst comes after reports surfaced that Arambai Tenggol, a leader of the Meitei group, had been arrested, sparking large-scale demonstrations in Imphal on Friday night. Although prohibitory orders have been clamped to prevent escalation, the government has not yet released an official statement regarding the alleged arrest.
The arrest of the Kuki militant leader is considered as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigations by the NIA in the troubled state. Manipur, which has been reeling under ethnic and political tensions since May 2023. More than 250 people have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced in the ongoing conflict. The situation in the state is still tricky and remains fragile. Both state and central security agencies are continuing their operations against armed militant groups to curb the violence in Manipur. But it will definitely take times to heal the wounds created by ethnic rifts in the state in the last two years.
