The National Investigation Agency is probing into two sensational cases where armed attacks on police and decamping with arms have been reported in conflict-torn Manipur on Korounganba Khuman, chief of Arambai Tenggol (AT). The radical Meitei outfit has been blamed by Kuki-Zo groups for staging violence against their community since the ethnic crises began last May.
The cases are among eight related to the Manipur violence that were transferred to Guwahati from the special NIA court in Imphal by the Supreme Court’s orders. NIA applied for the transfer on the basis of the security of the victims, witnesses, accused persons, and their lawyers. The agency cautioned that the escalation of hostilities in Manipur brought the prospects of the legal process into peril.
The first incident occurred on the 1st of November 2022 when Khuman allegedly mobilized armed cadres of AT with sophisticated weapons sticks and dressed them in police uniforms. As per the NIA, Khuman had incited violence through a Facebook post where he said to teach Hindutva forces a final lesson. The group converged at Palace Compound in Imphal East district and shot at police officers, overwhelmed and charged towards Imphal West.
In the second case, a sequential case to the first, Khauman and his associates attacked the north-western gate of the 1st Manipur Rifles armed battalion. The group organized the destruction of government offices, stealing cars, and taking weapons and ammunition. Nonetheless, the attackers left the scene taking along the stolen firearms even after reinforcement with additional forces of Assam rifles, CRPF, and Local police.
The FIR filed in February this year accuses Khuman and his associates of rioting, armed robbery, obstructing public servants of the country, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and impersonating a police officer.
Formed in early year 2020 as a social and cultural organization, Arambai Tenggol has turned into a militant group demanding the cause of Meiteis and using violence at times.
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