Tensions flared in Imphal West Friday after a group of women protesters attempted to storm the residence of former deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar over his post on the role of the armed Meitei group Arambai Tenggol in the ongoing ethnic conflict.
In an escalating social media war between him and former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Joykumar, the Manipur chief of the National People’s Party, named the armed group while speaking about how the conflict, which first began in May 2023, was triggered.
“Biren Ji misjudged the Kuki-Meitei conflict’s roots. The Tribal Students’ rally against the High Court’s ST status order for Meiteis was a law-and-order issue he let spiral into communal strife. Why did his govt allow massive rallies, withdraw commandos from Churachandpur, and let groups like Arambai Tenggol attack Kukis?” he said on X earlier this week.
The post caused outrage, with Meitei women’s group Apunba Manipur Emasing (United Manipur Mothers) attempting to storm Joykumar’s residence to demand an apology. The attempt was thwarted by some police personnel deployed at the house.
Joykumar is accusing the Arambai Tengol of starting the conflict, one Apunba Manipur Emasing leader claimed.
“The violence was started by the Kukis attacking Meitei civilians and homes to which they (Arambai) were compelled to retaliate,” this leader said.
Eventually, one leader said that some representatives of the group had met Joykumar, who had refused to apologise but promised to rectify the error.
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Soon after, the National People’s Youth Front, the Manipur State Committee of National People’s Party, said in a letter to Arambai Tenggol that the name of the armed group had been removed from the post.
“It is most unfortunate that this misunderstanding occurred and we share your hurt. Let us work together to avoid misunderstanding in the future…. NPP stands with AT and other village volunteers who have sacrificed for our state,” the letter said, apologising for the “unintended tension” between Arambai Tenggol and NPP.
Manipur has been roiled by an ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zos since May 3, 2023, which has killed over 250 people and left tens of thousands homeless. On February 9 – 21 months after the conflict first erupted – Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned, leading to the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
A former IPS officer, Joykumar served as deputy chief minister of the Biren Singh-led Cabinet from 2017 and 2022.
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