Army Forced To Release 12 Militants As Women-Led Mob Blocks The Way In Manipur

The Army released 12 members of the militant group KYKL after a women-led mob of over 1,200 people surrounded them in Itham village in Imphal East in Manipur.

#WATCH | Manipur: Security forces launched an operation acting on specific intelligence, in village Itham in Imphal East district on 24th June. The operation resulted in apprehension of 12 KYKL cadres along with arms, ammunition and war-like stores. Self-Styled Lt Col Moirangthem¡­ pic.twitter.com/B1yXoJ9WKo

¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023

Indian Army's statement

In a statement, Army said that it decided to not risk civilian lives and release the militants to end the standoff which lasted for nearly a day in the violence-hit state.

"Keeping in view the sensitivity of the use of kinetic force against a large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action, a considered decision was taken to hand over all 12 cadres to the local leader," the Army said.

The Army also commended the commander in charge of the operation for taking a "mature decision" which showed the "humane face of the Indian Army".

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Acting on specific intelligence, operation was launched in Village Itham (06 km East of Andro) in Imphal East by Security Forces today morning. Specific search after laying cordon was¡­ pic.twitter.com/7ZH9Jp8nOI

¡ª SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) June 24, 2023

Earlier in the day, Army had apprehended the 12 militants of the Meitei militant group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL). The group was involved in several attacks, including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015, Army said.

Women-led mobs frequently thwart security operations

The Issue of women-led mobs thwarting security forces from conducting combing operations has been happening across Manipur, where ethnic violence between the Meities and the Kukis has claimed 115 lives since May 3.

On June 22, a mob led by women protesters blocked a CBI team, which was entering the Manipur police training college to investigate looting of arms.

On June 23, too, the army tweeted that mobs led by women stopped security personnel from reaching an area where armed miscreants were firing using automatic guns.

manipur

What's happening in Manipur?

Clashes between the Kukis and Meiteis first erupted on May 3 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' against a court-ordered tweak to the state¡¯s reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the latter. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders.

The authorities then imposed a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state. But tensions are simmering for much longer, owing to the state government¡¯s decision to exit the tripartite accord and move against some forest dwelling groups it termed as encroachers.

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