Was Arambai Tenggol Member Kanan Singh Arrested by CBI for Criminal Activities Linked to Manipur Violence?

Synopsis
In a significant turn of events, Kanan Singh, an associate of the radical Arambai Tenggol organization, has been detained by the CBI for alleged criminal actions linked to the violent incidents in Manipur this year. This arrest has sparked widespread protests and unrest in the region, raising serious questions about public safety and state response.
Key Takeaways
- Kanan Singh, a member of Arambai Tenggol, was arrested by the CBI.
- His arrest is linked to the 2023 Manipur violence.
- Protests erupted across the region following his detention.
- The state government has imposed a curfew and banned mobile internet services.
- The CBI continues its investigation under Supreme Court orders.
Imphal, June 8 (NationPress) A member of the radical Meitei organization, Arambai Tenggol (AT), identified as Kanan Singh, was apprehended by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Imphal Airport on Sunday, according to an agency announcement.
The CBI disclosed that Singh played a role in various illicit activities associated with the 2023 Manipur violence. His family has been informed about his arrest.
The central agency is probing the violence in Manipur under directives from the Supreme Court, with ongoing trials being moved from Manipur to Guwahati due to the prevailing law and order concerns in Manipur.
Singh has been transported from Imphal to Guwahati, where he is expected to be presented before the appropriate court for police remand.
Ongoing investigations are being reported by the CBI.
A police official from Manipur stated that Singh and four other members of AT were detained for their involvement in various unlawful activities.
Following news of the arrests, unrest erupted in multiple districts of Manipur's valley, particularly in Imphal East and Imphal West.
Protesters set fire to several vehicles, including those of the security forces.
Clashes between security forces and demonstrators resulted in injuries to ten individuals, including a journalist.
In response to the arrests of AT members, numerous protesters, comprising both men and women, torched tyres and discarded furniture on major roads in Kwakeithel and Uripok in Imphal West, demanding the immediate release of the detained individuals.
Protesters also besieged significant installations.
In several instances, AT activists doused themselves in petrol as a symbolic protest against the arrests.
Local residents reported hearing gunshots in Kwakeithel, but it remains unclear who fired the shots or if there were any injuries.
In response to the detention of their leader Kanan Singh and other members by central security agencies, Arambai Tenggol has declared a 10-day shutdown across Manipur starting Sunday.
To manage the situation, the state government imposed a ban on mobile internet services at midnight on Saturday and enacted an indefinite curfew in five districts of the Imphal valley—Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. A substantial contingent of both central and state forces, led by senior officials, has been deployed in these districts, particularly in Imphal East and Imphal West, to maintain order.