People's Liberation Army of Manipur

History

The group founded by N. Bisheshwar Singh on 25 September 1978. Since its founding, it has been waging guerrilla warfare as part of the Insurgency in Manipur against the Indian Armed Forces, and has targeted the Indian Army, Indian Paramilitary Forces and the State Police Force. However, during the late nineties, it declared a unilateral decision not to target the Manipur Police.

The death of some top leaders in combat (like President Thoudam Kunjabehari in 1982), and the arrest of others (like N. Bisheshwar, arrested in 1981) decreased its military activity in the eighties. In 1989, a political wing called the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) was formed. The RPF formed a government in exile in Bangladesh, led by Irengbam Chaoren, and began a restructuring of the organisation. The Organisation become very active. Its operation was divided into four sections: Sadar Valley West Hill areas of Manipur, Sadar Hill areas in the east Valley, Hill areas of Manipur and Imphal valley, each with a commander, and other ranks.

On July 13th, 2025, the PLA announced an alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom and a faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland.

Organisation

The PLA has an estimated strength of some 3, 800 as of 2008.

PLA-MP is also a member of the Manipur Peoples Liberation Front, an umbrella organization of several Manipur secessionist groups; namely, the UNLF and PREPAK. On 29 July 2020, three Indian soldiers in the Assam Rifles were killed and six injured in an ambush in Manipur's Chandel district near the Indo-Myanmar border.

In 2019, a confession by a PLAM member suggested that PLAM was in touch with Chinese People's Liberation Army. Sixteen platoons of PLAM returned to Manipur after receiving their training in China.

Through the 2023 Manipur violence, the separatist PLAM as well as Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) witnessed a surge in recruitment of new and previously surrendered soldiers.

On 25 February 2023, after the original chairman Irengbam Chaoren died of illness, Vice Chairman Manoharmayum Ngouba took over Irengbam's position as chairman.

References

References

1. https://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=28..191121.nov21
2. (13 February 2023). "Irengbam Chaoren, elusive chief of Manipur terror outfit RPF, believed 'talks can't win freedom'".
3. "Banned Terrorist Organisations". National Investigation Agency (NIA).
4. "People's Liberation Army: Incidents and Statements involving People's Liberation Army: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2000-2012". South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP).
5. https://plamanipur.com/pla-ulfa-i-amasung-nscn-ya-punna-leiminaba-lansang-amada/
6. (2023-09-13). "How Manipur conflict fits into broader game plan of China".
7. Saikia, Arunabh. (2023-09-02). "The return of Meitei insurgents marks a new turn in Manipur conflict".
8. (2023-02-25). "MM Ngouba the new president of RPF".