In the Bishnupur district of Manipur last Tuesday, protesters led by women halted the army from transporting seized weapons and ammunition. According to news agency PTI, authorities reported an incident where the army's Second Mahar Regiment, during an early morning patrol on April 30th, stopped two SUVs. The occupants fled, abandoning their arms at the sight of the soldiers. Shortly after, the 'Meira Paibis' (a civic group of Meitei women) gathered and demanded the weapons be handed over to them.
Officials stated that hundreds of women blocked the road and prevented the army convoy from exiting the area. The women protesters also insisted that no weapons be seized until the conflict that began in May last year is resolved. Despite the army firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd, it was to no avail. On receiving news of the incident, Manipur police arrived at the scene. After negotiations with the women protesters, it was agreed the army would hand over the weapons to the state police later.
Jaya Khagenbam, leading the group of women protesters, said, 'Seizing weapons from the villagers of Kumbi, who guard the border area, exposes us to potential attacks from armed insurgents in the nearby hills of Churachandpur district. The security forces must remember that it is due to their inability to protect the villages in the valley near the hills that the village volunteers had to take up arms.' Officials stated that the situation is now under control, and the army personnel has reached their designated base.
On April 27th, an attack by Kuki insurgents on a security force camp in Manipur's Bishnupur district, resulted in the death of two CRPF soldiers and left two injured. The Manipur police identified the deceased CRPF personnel as Sub-Inspector N Sarkar from Kokrajhar, Assam, and Head Constable Arup Saini from Bankura, West Bengal. The injured soldiers were identified as Inspector Jadab Das and Constable Mohammad Aftab Ul Hussein. The targeted CRPF outpost is located in Naranseina within the Bishnupur district of the Imphal Valley.
