Army Forced To Release Twelve Insurgents After A Mob Led By Women Surrounds Security Forces

The Indian Army was forced to release twelve insurgents after a strong mob of 1,200-1,500 people led by women and local leaders surrounded the security forces.

One of the insurgent released was the self styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, who was responsible for a deadly ambush on a military convoy of 6 Dogra in 2015, which killed 20 soldiers.

According to a tweet by the Indian Army's Spear Corps, a specific operation was launched in the Itham village in Imphal East, where twelve cadres of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) group caught with arms and ammunition, inlcuding war like stores.

"Acting on specific intelligence, operation was launched in Village Itham (06 km East of Andro) in Imphal East by Security Forces today morning. In the ensuing operation, 12 KYKL cadres were apprehended alongwith arms, ammunition and War like stores," the tweet said.

"Positive Identification of Self Styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam (Mastermind of 6 DOGRA ambush case of 2015) amongst the 12 apprehended cadres was done," the tweet added.

However, after the arrest, a mob of 1,200 to 1,500 locals led by women leaders surrounded the security forces.

"Mob of approximately 1200- 1500 led by women & the local leader immediately surrounded the target area and prevented Security Forces from going ahead with the operation. Repeated appeals to the aggresive mob to let the Security Forces carry on with operation as per law did not yield any positive result," the tweet said.

As the aggresive mob didn't heed to the repeated appeals of the security forces, and the sensitivity of using kinetic force, the operational commander handed over the twelve cadres to the locals.

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

The decision to hand over the cadres is significant, especially in the backdrop of the curent situation in Manipur, where the ethnic violence between the Kuki's and the Meitei's shows no signs of ending.

However, the arms and ammunition recovered from the insurgents were taken away by the Army.

The Army added, "Own Columns lifted the cordon and left the area with weapons and War Like Stores recovered from insurgents".

The Army also released an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) footage of the entire incident.

"Mature decision on part of Operational Commander shows humane face of the Indian Army to avoid any collateral damage during the ongoing unrest in Manipur," the Army tweet further said.

While the violence between the Kuki's and Meitei's continue, the government has ordered an extension of suspensions of internet services for another five days till 30 June.