Arrest by CBI after clemency assurance by Governor
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 10, 2025 -

PRIOR to imposition of the President's Rule in February this year, Manipur witnessed violent clashes between the Meetei community and the Kuki-Zo groups since the ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, resulting in over 250 people killed and thousands displaced.

The violence and its devastating effects not only grabbed the attention of the national media but also found space/slot in international print and electronic media outlets not to speak of the social media platforms showing burned homes and bodies of the victims including women and children.

To contain the violence and as an after-effect of the internal differences within the ruling BJP, the President's Rule was imposed in the state under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, which allows the President to take action when a state government fails to comply with constitutional provisions, subject to approval by the Union Council of Ministers.

With imposition of the PR bringing to an end the violent clashes, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla served an ultimatum to the communities in conflict to either surrender the unauthorised weapons in possession in exchange for clemency or face crackdown.

In response to the Governor's offer for clemency, various units of Arambai Tenggol surrendered large cache of firearms, including many suspected to have been looted from police armouries in the first few days of the violence, whereas some Civil organisations and leaders advised Kuki armed groups against laying down the weapons, which some individuals defied and handed over handful of weapons, mostly consisting of locally made mortar guns and barrelled weapons, suspected to have been looted from a gun shop in Churachandpur town on the same evening the broke out.

Apparently trusting the Governor's assurance for granting clemency, Arambai Tenggol volunteers not only handed over weapons in their possession but left their positions in the fringe villages, the prime targets of Kuki armed groups.

After remaining in quiescence mode for few months, the recent flood crisis saw Arambai members Joining hands with security forces and other civilian volunteers in saving people from flooded areas, repairing breached river banks and distributing relief items to the flood-affected communities, thereby demonstrating that they aren't lawbreakers but have firm resolve to safeguard public lives and properties, and forced to take up arms after state and central forces were reduced to bystanders as armed Kukis targeted Meetei villages after another in the fringe areas.

Therefore, it is but natural that the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan by the CBI has triggered widespread public protests as the detention is seen as an act of betrayal, especially after the Governor had assured clemency to whosoever surrenders unauthorised weapons.

The evolving tense situation merits immediate intervention by the Governor failing which the masses in general and Arambai Tenggol in particular, would lose trust in the President's Rule administration to deliver justice and possibly spark intense agitations against the PR regime.

In case of a protracted showdown between the public and the security forces, possibility of the entire valley population joining the movement cannot be ruled out.

In such a scenario, the combined manpower strength of state and central forces might be numerically inadequate in maintaining law and order.

Therefore, it is suggested that the Governor clarify his position, failing which there is no reason why his clemency offer would be construed as part of the hidden agenda to disarm, imperil and obliterate the Meetei community.