1. Women-led protesters intervene during the Indian Army’s detention of 11 armed individuals in Manipur.
2. Indian Army’s Mahar Regiment detains individuals dressed in police attire, per Manipur Police statements.
3. The incident occurs during patrolling in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, prompting women protesters’ intervention.
Imphal, May 01: A significant incident unfolded in Manipur’s Bishnupur district as a group of women-led protesters intervened during the detention of 11 armed individuals by the Indian Army. According to Manipur Police statements, the army’s Mahar Regiment detained these individuals, dressed in police fatigues, during patrolling.
The encounter resulted in the recovery of a cache of weapons, including rifles, ammunition, grenades, and bulletproof jackets.
Following the interception, members of the “Meira Paibis,” a collective of Meitei women, gathered at the scene demanding custody of the seized weapons.
Despite attempts by security forces to maintain control, the women forcibly took possession of the detained individuals.
Both Manipur Police and the Indian Army worked jointly to navigate through the hostile environment and safely secure the recovered weapons.
Today i.e. on 30/04/2024 at around 2:30 AM, a column of Mahar Regiment intercepted and detained 11 armed miscreants dressed in police fatigues. From their possession, the following items-
i.3 AK rifles (7 magazines and 210 ammunitions)
ii.5 INSAS (13 magazines and 260…— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) April 30, 2024
Also Read: Assam Government’s Investigation into Fake Encounter Case Questioned by Supreme Court
Amidst these events, videos surfaced on social media depicting a standoff between the women protesters and the Army convoy.
In response to the blockade, the Army is seen purportedly firing warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
Jaya Khagenbam, a protest leader, emphasized the vulnerability of villages in fringe areas like Kumbi to potential militant attacks due to the confiscation of weapons from village volunteers.
The situation eventually de-escalated, with officials confirming the return to normalcy as Army personnel withdrew from the scene.
Additionally, the Manipur Police clarified that the detained individuals were not linked to the April 27 incident at Naranseina, where two CRPF personnel lost their lives in a militant attack on an IRBn camp.
Investigations into both incidents remain ongoing, with no current connections established.
The attack at Naranseina resulted in the tragic loss of two CRPF personnel, identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar and head constable Arup Saini.
Militants launched a coordinated assault on the IRBn camp, firing indiscriminately and hurling explosives, leading to a prolonged confrontation during the late hours of the night.
