On Saturday, the Indian Army found itself in a situation where it had to release 12 militants associated with an armed Meitei group.
This decision was made due to the presence of a large mob consisting of over 1,200 people in the Imphal East district. The Army’s Spear Corps justified this action by stating that it aimed to prevent any unintended harm to civilians amidst the ongoing unrest in the state.
The conflict between the Meitei and Kuki ethnic groups in Manipur has resulted in the loss of more than 100 lives, with over 300 people injured and thousands displaced since May 3. The violence erupted following a protest march by thousands of individuals opposing the majority Meiteis’ demand to be classified as Scheduled Tribes.
On the day in question, security forces initiated an operation in the village of Itham, establishing a cordon in the area. During this operation, the Army successfully apprehended twelve members of the Meitei militant group known as Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup. These individuals were found in possession of arms, ammunition, and other military supplies. Notably, among the detainees was Moirangthem Tamba, also known as Uttam, who had been accused of orchestrating an ambush on an Army unit in 2015 resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers.
Despite the Army’s successful operation, their progress was impeded by a mob consisting of approximately 1,200 to 1,500 individuals, primarily led by women. These protesters surrounded the area and prevented the security forces from proceeding with their operation.
