By St. Ginth Haokip – Kukiland Express Desk
Songpi: May 5, 2026
Former Additional Director General of the Border Security Force, P.K. Mishra, has corroborated longstanding allegations by Kuki organisations that Arambai Tenggol cadres are operating in coordination with Tangkhul militant elements in Ukhrul district. Mishra’s statement gives new weight to claims that Kuki civil society groups have been raising for months, arguing that security agencies have not acted on credible information despite the strategic implications.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, had earlier alleged that Arambai Tenggol members are present alongside Tangkhul militant networks across multiple locations in the district. In a press release, KIM said over 50 Arambai Tenggol cadres are stationed at Sikibung and are conducting joint operations with Tangkhul militants. The organisation named Sareikhong, T.M. Kasom, Leingangching, Sikibung, and Thoyee as areas where such activities are taking place.
KIM also pointed to the continued operation of a Tangkhul militant camp allegedly linked to the NSCN Eastern Flank, a breakaway faction known for extortion networks and criminal activities in Manipur’s eastern frontier districts. The group questioned why enforcement agencies have not intervened, even as multiple sources report the convergence of Meitei and Tangkhul armed elements in the hill district. For Kuki organisations, this alignment represents a significant escalation of anti-Kuki forces in Ukhrul.
Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei armed organisation that rose to prominence during Manipur’s ethnic conflict in May 2023, has been accused of orchestrating violence against Kuki communities. Its reported presence in Ukhrul, a predominantly Tangkhul Naga district bordering Myanmar, marks a notable geographic extension of its operations beyond the Imphal Valley. The development has heightened concerns among Kuki groups about the broadening scope of armed activity outside Kuki-majority areas.
The allegations underscore broader Kuki concerns that state and central forces have failed to act against armed actors operating in areas beyond their own territory. KIM’s statements reflect frustration over what it sees as a selective approach to enforcement, particularly given the documented movement of cadres and camps in sensitive border zones. The group has repeatedly urged authorities to investigate and dismantle such networks before they further destabilize the region.
The convergence of Arambai Tenggol with Tangkhul militant networks, if confirmed, would signal a shift in strategic alignments in Ukhrul district. For Kuki civil society, the situation demands urgent attention from security establishments, both to prevent further escalation and to restore confidence among affected communities. As of now, no official response has been issued by state or central agencies regarding the claims made by Mishra and Kuki organisations.
