Indian Army Says Women Activists In Manipur Deliberately Blocking Routes, Accompanying "Armed Rioters"; Releases Video

The Indian Army on Monday (26 June) accused women protesters in Manipur of accompanying and abetting "armed rioters" and obstructing the operations of security forces in the state.

The Spear Corps of the Army released a video titled "Demystifying myth of peaceful blockade led by women in Manipur," which showed a large group of women surrounding personnel in Itham on Saturday (24 June), reports Indian Express.

In the video, the Army said that this incident was an example of women “helping rioters flee”.

The video also showed footage of heavy machinery digging up a section of a road with a large number of women present around it, stating that this was the entrance and exit to an Assam Rifles base being dug up to cause delays.

"Women activists in Manipur are deliberately blocking routes and interfering in Operations of Security Forces. Such unwarranted interference is detrimental to the timely response by Security Forces during critical situations to save lives and property," the Army said.

In a statement in the video, the Indian Army urged all sections of society to cooperate with Security Forces in Manipur.

The statement emphasized that blocking the movement of Security Forces is not only unlawful but also hinders their efforts to restore law and order in the region.

“Blocking movement of Security Forces is not only unlawful but also detrimental to their efforts towards restoring law and order… Indian Army appeals to all sections of society to cooperate with Security Forces working day and night to bring peace and stability in Manipur,” it stated.

The statement came two days after the Army had to release 12 cadres of the banned insurgent group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, following a stand-off with a women-led mob in Imphal East.

The Army has released a video showing visuals from June 23 in Yaingangpokpi, Imphal East, which saw incidents of shooting that day.

The video showed two open vans carrying a large number of women accompanying some vehicles, which the Army said carried armed rioters. Another visual from 13 June showed a large number of people obstructing a road.