RK Meghen

Former Chairman
(Matam Amagi Luchingpurel)
RK Meghen
Sana Yaima
Born21 September 1944
Yaiskul
EducationMaster
OccupationFormer Chairman of UNLF
OrganizationUNLF
SpouseIbemnungshi
Parents
  • RK Madhuyarajit (father)
  • Laitonjam Hemabati (mother)
FamilyRK Chinglen (son)
Thounaojam Brinda (daughter in law)

Rajkumar Meghen (born 21 September 1944)[1] alias Sana Yaima (precious son)[2][3] is a Manipuri separatist politician and former chairman of United National Liberation Front.[4]

Personal life

Meghen is the second son of RK Madhuyarajit Singh & Laitonjam Ningol Hemabati, and the great grandson of Prince Tikhendrajit[5](however there is no significant evidence to proof the claim as Prince Tikendrajit died as a bachelor), the military commander for Manipur Kingdom in the Anglo Manipuri War.[6][7] He graduated from St. Paul's Cathedral Mission College in Kolkata and went for his Master's degree from Jadavpur University in International Relations.[8][7][9]

Meghen has two sons; Chingkhei and Chinglen. The elder son Chingkhei works at Manipur University while second son Chinglen is unemployed, once work as distributor of Airtel owning a company name M/S Landmark in Thangmeiband but dissolved the company after he was accused to killing a journalist and his name came on charge-sheet of CBI.[10]

UNLF

RK Meghen reportedly joined UNLF in 1976.[11] In 1975, he left Manipur and trekked to a militant camp in Myanmar’s Somra Tract led by Thuingaleng Muivah and S. S. Khaplang; his younger son was six days old.[12] He became chairman of UNLF in 1998.[citation needed]

In 2010, he was arrested at Bangladesh and soon, handed over to India.[13][14][15] The National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged him along with 18 other leaders for waging a war on India and raising funds by extorting the state government and private bodies.[14] In June 2016, the NIA Court pronounced a guilty verdict on 11 sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act; Meghen was sentenced to 10 years in prison.[16] He declined to appeal for leniency and rejected that Indian Courts had any sovereign rights to litigate him.[16]

In November 2019, his sentence was commuted by about 10 months owing to his contributions to the jail like setting up a library, a music school for jail inmates and construction of a garden inside the Guwahati Central Jail[17] and he was released from jail — in what was widely perceived to be a governmental strategy during the Naga Peace talks.[9][18] However, he was disallowed by the National Investigation Agency to immediately return to Manipur and instead transported to a safe house in Guwahati followed by Delhi.[14][19] On November 28, he was finally allowed to leave for Imphal.[19] Meghen has since spent a quite life, away from media attention.[19]

References

  1. ^ Bhaumik, Subir (2018-09-03), "'Northeast' in India's 'Act East'", BCIM Economic Cooperation, Routledge India, pp. 236–255, retrieved 2024-01-12
  2. ^ Hussain, Wasbir (2009), "Ethno-Nationalism and the Politics of Terror in India's Northeast", South Asia, Routledge India, doi:10.4324/9781315868783-6/ethno-nationalism-politics-terror-india-northeast-wasbir-hussain, ISBN 978-1-315-86878-3, retrieved 2024-01-12
  3. ^ "RK Meghen, leader of Manipur valley insurgents, freed, then detained". The Indian Express. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  4. ^ "UNLF celebrates raising day : 25th nov16 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  5. ^ Parratt, John (2005). Wounded Land : Politics and Identity in Modern Manipur. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 137. ISBN 978-8183240536.
  6. ^ "The Chequered Career of a Manipur Police Officer Whose Father-in-Law is an Insurgent Leader". The Wire. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  7. ^ a b "UNLF chief RK Meghen set to return home after 44 years : 28th nov19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  8. ^ Suresh Singh, Th (2014). The endless Kabaw Valley : British created vicious cycle of Manipur, Burma and India (1st ed.). New Delhi, India: Quills Ink Private Limited. p. 284. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0.
  9. ^ a b Chakravarti, Sudeep (2019-11-14). "Can Manipur rebel chief R.K. Meghen sway Naga peace talks?". mint. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  10. ^ "Killing of Rishikanta:: CBI charge-sheets two including Cdo Herojit : 14th may13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  11. ^ Rammohan, E. N. (2011). Countering insurgencies in India : an insider's view. United Service Institution of India. New Delhi: Vij Books India Private Limited. p. 76. ISBN 978-93-81411-66-7.
  12. ^ Bhonsle, Anubha. "In Manipur, a policewoman pays heavily for being related to an insurgent leader". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  13. ^ "Indian separatist leader 'arrested in Bangladesh'". BBC News. 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  14. ^ a b c Scroll Staff. "Manipuri separatist leader RK Meghen released from Guwahati jail after completing sentence". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  15. ^ "India confirms arrest of Manipur rebel leader". BBC News. 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  16. ^ a b "Meghen firm on stand". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  17. ^ "UNLF Chief Rajkumar Meghen Set to Return Home after 44 Years". www.news18.com. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  18. ^ Quint, The (2019-11-30). "UNLF Chief Meghen Reaches Imphal, Says, 'Will Work For the People'". TheQuint. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  19. ^ a b c "Manipur Police Suspects Assassination Plot Against Rebel Leader R.K. Meghen". The Wire. Retrieved 2021-05-03.