A large group of women-led protesters confronted the Indian Army and forcefully released 11 miscreants after they were detained with arms and ammunition in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Tuesday, police said.
The incident occurred during patrolling in the Kumbi area in the early hours, where personnel of the Army’s 2 Mahar regiment intercepted two SUVs. Shortly after, ‘Meira Paibis’ – a civilian group of Meitei women – gathered at the spot and demanded that the weapons be handed over to them. They also insisted that no weapons be confiscated until the conflict, which began in May last year, is resolved, the official added.
In a statement, the Manipur Police said, during patrolling, a column of the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army intercepted and detained the armed miscreants dressed in police fatigues. News agency PTI, citing unnamed officials, reported that the army was patrolling in the Kumbi area when they intercepted two SUVs.
Upon learning of the incident, state police forces rushed to the area, and an agreement was reached for the Army to hand over the arms to the police later.
“Confiscating weapons from village volunteers guarding a fringe area like Kumbi leaves us exposed to possible attacks by armed militants from adjacent hill areas of Churachandpur district,” PTI quoted Jaya Khagenbam, a leader of the protestors.
“Security forces should remember that their inability to protect villages located at the periphery of the Valley led to the emergence of the village volunteers,” she added.
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