Tensions heightened in Manipur on Tuesday when an Additional Superintendent of Police was reportedly kidnapped by members of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei organization, in Imphal East district, according to the police. The Manipur Police, in a statement, added that Imphal East additional superintendent of police Amit Singh was later rescued after a swift action by cops and security forces.

Amit Singh, an officer assigned to the operations wing of the Manipur Police, has been hospitalized, and his condition is reported as stable. During the attack on Tuesday evening, armed individuals, purportedly affiliated with the Arambai Tenggol, vandalized Singh's residence and inflicted damage on at least four vehicles through gunfire.

News agency PTI, citing unnamed officials, reported that the Army was called in after fresh tension mounted in Manipur and four columns of the Assam Rifles were deployed in Imphal East the police officer was abducted.

Giving details of the incident that took place around 7 pm on Tuesday, the Manipur Police said armed miscreants numbering about 200 coming in vehicles stormed the residence of Amit Singh.

“Firing incident at the residence of Addl SP, IW, Moirangthem Amit, MPS On 27th February, 2024. Armed miscreants numbering about 200 coming in vehicles stormed at the residence of the Additional Superintendent of Police, Shri Moirangthem Amit Singh, MPS, s/o Dr. M. Kulla Singh of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, under Porompat PS of Imphal East district. The armed miscreants vandalized the household properties at the residence,” the Manipur Police posted on X (formally Twitter).

“On getting information, additional security forces rushed to the spot. In the resulting police action, two individuals namely Rabinash Moirangthem, 24 yrs s/o M. Ranjan of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai and Kangujam Bhimsen, 20 yrs c/o K. Abosana of Khongman Bashikhong sustained injuries on their persons and were admitted to JNIMS Hospital, Porompat. In the midst of the incident, the Addl SP and one of his escorts were abducted by the armed miscreants. They were later rescued from Kwakeithel Konjeng Leikai area and admitted to Raj Medicity for medical treatment. A case has been registered in this regard and an investigation has started,” it added.

The indiscriminate firing occurred reportedly because the officer in question had arrested six individuals associated with the group on charges of being involved in vehicle theft, as per officials quoted by PTI.

After the arrests, a Meira Paibis group (Meitei women's group) staged protests, blocking roads and demanding the release of the detained individuals.

Giving details about the incident, M Kulla, the police officer's father, said, "We tried to talk to the armed men after they entered, but all of a sudden they started firing at the vehicles and properties. So we had to rush inside and lock ourselves." M Kulla, according to the officials, called his son and informed about the incident.

The officer, along with his team, hurried to the scene but was reportedly abducted as they found themselves outnumbered by the cadres believed to be affiliated with the Arambai Tenggol, according to PTI. The Manipur Police acted swiftly, mobilizing their forces to execute a successful rescue operation, ensuring the safe return of Amit Kumar within a matter of hours, as per the report.

The Manipur government had to take the help of the Army as the situation worsened after the rescue efforts. The Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force, functions under the operational command of the Army.

Since May 3, 2023, Manipur has experienced a surge in violence, with more than 180 casualties reported. The escalation followed a "Tribal Solidarity March" in the hill districts, where protests arose against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Image source: Hindustan Times