Meitei Woman Reveals Arambai Tenggol's Involvement in Violent Activities During the First Phase of Lok Sabha Polls in Manipur

Despite claims and clarifications made by Arambai Tenggol that they were not involved in violent activities and large scale poll riggings during the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, a Meitei woman and her brother have revealed that members of the militia group were deeply involved in the poll riggings and other malpractices.

The civilian duo claimed that they were badly assaulted by cadres of the Arambai Tenggol for supporting a candidate against their choice; Th Bashanta, the BJP candidate.

Despite the state government’s reluctance in revealing the criminals and shielding the unlawful activities of the Arambai Tenggol, the statement of the Meitei woman and her brother has exposed the sinister design of the militia group during the electoral processes.

In a report published by a valley based media outlet, a Meitei woman, named Khoirom Medha, narrated the incident where members of the Arambai Tenggol assaulted her brother on the day of polling, April 19; and vowed that she would stand up by telling the truth despite threats of mortal retribution looming over her in such case. Khoirom Medha, the sister of Yumnam Shanta from Kyamgei Maning Leikai identified the attackers of her brother as members of the infamous Arambai Tenggol and reaffirmed her commitment to the truth, stating that she would stand by her statement made at the April 20 press conference regarding the incident.

Medha and her brother Shanta revealed that they have been facing threats from the Arambai Tenggol and were coerced to alter their account of the fateful incident. While recalling the incident, Medha said that she had witnessed her brother being brutally attacked by cadres of the Arambai Tenggol on the polling day.

The woman asserted that she was prepared to face any consequences or threats to uphold her statement and the true account of the incident while expressing her confidence in witnessing the incident with her own eyes. The woman also informed that she has numerous witnesses to support her statement.

While maintaining that she had high regards for Arambai Tenggol, used to welcome them warmly after their battles and prayed for their well-being, even her own son was also a member of the militia group, Medha however regretted the militants’ unruly behaviour on her and her brother during the polling day. Yumnam Shanta, the victim of Arambai Tenggol’s assault, said that he was forcibly removed from the Kyamgei polling station as he was nominated as one of the Congress party’s polling agents, and was subjected to severe assault outside the polling booth.

In an interview with media outlets, the Congress candidate, Bimol Akoijam had also spoken about how the normal polling processes were disrupted. However, he still do not have the courage to take the name of Arambai Tenggol although it was crystal clear that the AT cadres were working in the interests of the BJP candidate, Thounaojam Basanta.