After
Maharaja Chandrakriti's death in 1886, his son
Surachandra Singh succeeded him. As in previous occasions, several claimants to the throne tried to unsettle the new king. The first three attempts were defeated, but in 1890, following an attack on the palace by Tikendrajit and Kulachandra Singh (two of the king's brothers) Surachandra Singh announced his intention to abdicate and left Manipur for Cachar.
Kulachandra Singh, the king's younger brother, rose then to the throne while Tikendrajit Singh, commander of the Manipuri armed forces (Senapati), held the real power behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Surachandra Singh, once safely away from Manipur, appealed to the British for help to recover the throne. The British decided to recognize Juvraj Kulachandra Singh as Raja, and sent a military expedition to Manipur in order to punish Senapati Tikendrajit Singh as the main person responsible for the dynastic disturbances. On 31 March 1891 the British Government sent a military force against Manipur formed by three army columns from Kohima (under the command of Major General H. Collet), Silchar (under the command of Colonel R.H.F. Rennick) and Tamu (under the command of Brigadier General T. Graham) were sent to Manipur. Tikendrajit led the Manipuri army in this war. The British army finally took possession of the Kangla Palace on 27 April 1891. Major Maxwell took over as the chief political agent. Later, Manipur became a
princely state and Churachand Singh, a minor was placed on the throne of Manipur. Tikendrajit and other leaders of Manipur subsequently went underground. Tikendrajit was arrested in the evening of 23 May.
Ethel Grimwood was consulted by
Queen Victoria who was concerned that a Prince would be hung when the British appeared treacherous. Grimwood said that she did not hold Tikendrajit responsible for her husband's death, but she felt that he had committed other crimes. ==The trial and death==