Arambai Tenggol
TypeMeitei organisation
HeadquartersImphal
Area served
Imphal Valley, Manipur, India
Head
Kourounganba Khuman[1]

Arambai Tenggol (Meitei for 'dart wielding cavalry')[2] is a Meitei socio-cultural organisation in the Indian state of Manipur. It is believed to be a revivalist organisation that aims to reestablish the native Sanamahi religion of the Meiteis, which predates the Meitei adoption of Hinduism in the early 18th century.[3] Critics describe it as an extremist organisation, which was notably involved in the ethnic clashes with the Kuki people during the 2023 Manipur violence.[4][5]

Etymology

"Arambai Tenggol" is a Meitei language name, which is translated as "dart wielding cavalry".[2] Tenggol (Meitei: ꯇꯦꯡꯒꯣꯜ, romanized: /teŋ.gol/) means a troop or a platoon in Meitei language.[6] Arambai (Meitei: ꯑꯔꯥꯝꯕꯥꯏ, romanized: /ə.ram.bai/) is a dart-like weapon,[7] that was used by Manipuri kings.[8]

Organisation

It was reported that Meitei youth have organised themselves under the banner of Arambai Tenggol in recent years.[9] The organisation has been active since around 2000, but is said to have become popular since 2002.[8]

The organisation enjoys political patronage at high levels in the state. It has posted pictures of meetings with the chief minister N. Biren Singh as well as Manipur's Rajya Sabha member and titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba. Members of the group said that Sanajaoba was their founder and leader. The oath-taking ceremony of the group in September 2022 was held at Sanajaoba's house.[10] The organisation has supported the state government and its "war on drugs" campaign, and countered protests against them.[8]

According to the Indian National Congress leader in the state, members of the Arambai Tenggol were seen wearing black clothes and moving around in groups of hundreds on motor-bikes with guns.[11] Kuki community members corroborated the observation. Kuki Students Organisation said that Arambai Tenggol members used to arrive in hundreds under the guise of conducting health and wellness campaigns, but only to intimidate the tribals. Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum spokesperson said that they took out multiple rallies to the Mizoram border with the intention of intimidating the tribals on the route.[12]

Allegations of violence

In Manipur, violence erupted on May 3 between the Meiteis from the valley and the Kukis of the Hill tribes,[13] raising concerns about a potential 'ethnic cleansing' along the Kuki-Meitei faultline.[14] Bhakta Charan Das, the All India Congress Committee Manipur in-charge, highlighted the role of Arambai Tenggol, which he described as being modelled after RSS and Bajrang Dal.[11] Its activists reportedly entered police stations and police training centres, looted the armouries, set fire to churches, looted villages, and caused widespread havoc.[11][15]

On 28 May, militants of surrendered valley-based insurgent groups operating under the Arambai Tenggol banner engaged in a fierce gunfight with the 37 Assam Rifles at Serou, Sugnu.[16]

On 16 June, a 55 year old Naga woman was killed at Keibi Heikakmapal in a gruesome manner, with her head blown up into pieces. The United Naga Council blamed Arambai Tenggol for the killing, calling it a "private militia known for their notoriety during the 2023 Manipur violence". The Naga body said that the woman was apprehended by the Meira Paibi and handed over to the Arambai Tenggol for execution.[17] A week later, a disturbing video got circulated on social media, showing militants continuously firing at the victim until her had was completely fragmented. The militants remarked, "No more head. This way of killing is nice".[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Writ petition by Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi in the Supreme Court of India" (PDF). scoobserver.in. 2023.
  2. 1 2 Saikia, Arunabh (6 June 2023). "Armed gangs and a partisan state: How Manipur slipped into civil war". Scroll.in. Arambai Tenggol means "dart-wielding cavalry" – a reference to traditional Meitei warriors. Embossed on the back of the outfit's uniform of black T-shirts are three pony-riding warriors.
  3. ↑ Syed Firdaus Ashraf, 'Biren Singh's BJP government is playing with fire in Manipur', Rediff News, 18 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Probe role of CM, Rajya Sabha MP in fuelling violence: Manipur tribal body". The Hindu. 31 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "'Were chased out... managed to reach Delhi... not everyone as fortunate': ST panel member from Manipur". The Economic Times. 1 June 2023.
  6. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (definition of "Tenggol")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 82. Retrieved 2 August 2023. tenggol ꯇꯦꯡꯒꯣꯜ /teŋ.gol/ n. a troop, platoon, etc. ~ sā- /~ sa/ v. to encamp, as of during a war. Morph: ~ sā- [~ to make].
  7. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (definition of "Arambai")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 11. Retrieved 2 August 2023. arāmbāi ꯑꯔꯥꯝꯕꯥꯏ /ə.ram.bai/ n. a dart-like weapon.
  8. 1 2 3 Vijaita Singh, Ten Kuki MLAs from Manipur demand ‘separate administration’, The Hindu, 12 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Ranjan Solomon, BJP’s Communal Politics Has Deepened Historical Conflicts in Manipur, The Wire, 7 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Saikia, Arunabh (6 June 2023). "Armed gangs and a partisan state: How Manipur slipped into civil war". Scroll.in.
  11. 1 2 3 Lahiri, Ishadrita (11 May 2023). "'Organisations on lines of RSS, Bajrang Dal have been formed in Manipur,' says Congress". ThePrint.
  12. ↑ Manufacturing ethnic segregation and conflict: A report on the violence in Manipur, All India Lawyers Association for Justice, August 2023, p. 73
  13. ↑ Mogul, Rhea (8 May 2023). "Why has a state in India's northeast exploded in ethnic unrest?". CNN News.
  14. ↑ Gupta, Moushumi Das (19 May 2023). "Kuki-Meitei faultline in violence-hit Manipur triggers fears of 'ethnic cleansing'". ThePrint.
  15. ↑ "Probe involvement of 2 radical Meitei groups in Manipur pogrom: tribal student bodies". The Hindu. 19 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Gunfight erupts between Arambai Tenggol militants and 37 Assam Rifles in Manipur". India Today NE. 30 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Manipur Naga body announces shutdown after woman's killing". The Hindu. 16 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "Manipur brutality on Naga woman: 'No more head. This way of killing is nice'". The Telegraph (Kolkata). 7 August 2023.
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