Meitei women vigilante group frees 11 armed men detained by Army in Manipur
The 11 armed individuals, dressed in police attire and intercepted by personnel of the Army's 2 Mahar regiment in Imphal, were freed on Wednesday.
The men were detained during patrolling in the early hours of Tuesday, after they were found in possession of a significant arsenal, including AK rifles, INSAS rifles, SLRs, hand grenades, and bulletproof jackets.
In an official note, the police said the situation was now under control.
According to news agency PTI, two SUVs were intercepted on Tuesday during patrolling, the occupants of which fled the spot, leaving behind their arms.
They were detained later.
Meanwhile, 'Meira Paibis' -- a civilian group of Meitei women, gathered at the spot, and demanded that the weapons be handed over to them, an official told PTI.
They also demanded that no weapons be confiscated till the conflict, which broke out in May last year, is over, he added.
Hundreds of women blocked the road and prevented the Army convoy from leaving the area, officials said.
To disperse the mob, the Army fired in the air, but that bore no result, they said.
Upon receiving information about the incident, state police forces rushed to the area. It was then agreed that the Army would later hand the arms to the police, they said.
"A group of womenfolk started gathering and blocked the road so as to prevent the movement of security forces," the police's official note read.
"On being informed by the Army about the developing situation, District Police rushed to the spot. On reaching, it was informed by the army personnel that the 11 persons have been snatched by the womenfolk during aggressive confrontation with them despite their best efforts," it stated.
"Displaying dogged determination and intent, teams of both Manipur Police and the Indian Army were successful in breaking through a number of obstacles/barriers created by hostile sympathizers and reach out to the teams at Kumbi PS. The recovered weapons and ammunitions were kept in safe custody," the note read.
