Imphal: Nearly 1500 women, in a daring act, rescued at least 12 village volunteers at Itham, in Imphal East district from the Army on Saturday.
However, the army in a statement claimed that apprehended volunteers were members of the banned KYKL and were led by a self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam. He was the mastermind of an ambush on the 6th battalion of the Dogra case in 2015, the statement added.
It further said that the army had launched a combing operation acting on specific intelligence at Itham, 6 km east of Andro on Friday. The operation resulted in the apprehending of 12 cadres of KYKL along with arms, ammunition and war-like stories.
However, a mob of approximately 1200-1500, led by women and local leaders immediately surrounded the area and prevented security forces from continuing with the operation, despite repeated appeals.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the use of kinetic force against large irate mobs and envisaged casualties due to such action, the officer on the ground made a considerate decision to hand over all 12 cadres to local leaders. The columns lifted the cordon and left the area with weapons and war-like stores, recovered from insurgents.
A mature decision on the part of the Operational Commander displays the humane face of the Indian Army, making all efforts to avoid any collateral damage and denies the scope of escalating the situation, during the ongoing unrest in Manipur, the statement added.
Indian Army appeals to the people of Manipur to assist the Security Forces in maintaining law and order to bring peace and stability.
