26 AT members rounded up, released
Source: The Sangai Express

Kakching, February 21 2025: Barely 24 hours after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla asked all the people, particularly youths, who are in possession of illegal weapons to surrender the weapons within seven days, 26 members of Arambai Tenggol (AT), Kakching were rounded up by Assam Rifles today.

Troops of 46 Assam Rifles surrounded the camp of AT Unit 26 located at Kakching Wairi Panjao Panlum this morning, according to information culled from the spot.

After surrounding the camp, the AR troops rounded 26 AT members who were found inside the camp.

On learning about the crackdown and the arrest of the AT members, a large number of people rushed to the spot.

Nonetheless, the AR troops took away the AT members using an alternative route.

26 AT members rounded up, released

The people went after the AR troops and they managed to detain a mini-truck in which five AR personnel were travelling at Kakching Wairi.

As news of the arrest of AT members spread, protests erupted at different places in the valley districts.

As the people's protest intensified, 10 AT members including five students who are appearing in the ongoing HSLC Exam conducted by BOSEM were released after they were handed over to Kakching police.

This step could not pacify the enraged masses and they further intensified their protest demanding immediate release of all the arrested AT members.

Subsequently, the remaining 16 members were also handed over to Kakching police and later released.

However, arms and other items seized by Assam Rifles when the AT members were arrested were taken over by police.

Meanwhile, denouncing the crackdown on village volunteers, people staged protest demonstrations and shouted slogans at many places.

Roads were blocked at different places, protesting the arrest of village volunteers.

People blocked the road at Kongpal Iranpham Bridge and also the Porompat DC road by burning tyres and other materials in the middle of the roads.

Although the roads were blocked to all kinds of vehicles, students appearing for board exams were exempted.

Kshetrigao Apunba Meira Paibi secretary P Anita urged Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to be impartial and crack down on Kuki narco-terrorists who are armed to the teeth with all kinds of sophisticated weapons.

A similar protest demonstration was also staged at Canchipur in front of the main gate of Manipur University along Imphal-Moreh highway.

All Kyamgei Nupi Chaokhat Thourang Lup president Moirangthem Sobita said that the crackdown on village volunteers is an invitation to aggravate the prevailing situation.

She said that the village volunteers were only defending innocent people and their properties from relentless attack by Kuki militants.

She urged the Governor to put an end to the highly partisan policy of giving a free hand to Kuki narco-terrorists in the hills while unleashing military force upon village volunteers in the valley as if the country's laws are applicable only in the valley.

The protesters shouted slogans like "Reinstate popular Government immediately", "We oppose imposition of President's Rule in Manipur", "We will not accept arrest of village volunteers" etc.

The protest was called off only after a police team came there and informed the protesters that all the arrested village volunteers have been freed.