An Indian Army convoy, transporting 11 members of Arambai Tenggol — the radical valley-based Meitei outfit — who were arrested with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, was stopped near Imphal by a large group of female protesters, who forcefully released the detained men from the army's custody.

The Manipur Police, in an official statement, said that while conducting patrols, a unit of the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army intercepted and apprehended the armed individuals dressed in police attire. According to reports from the news agency PTI, citing unnamed officials, the army was conducting patrols in the Kumbi area when they intercepted two SUVs.

“On seeing the Army personnel, the occupants of the two vehicles fled, leaving behind their arms,” PTI quoted an official as saying.

According to the Manipur Police, soldiers from the Mahar Regiment confiscated three AK rifles (along with 7 magazines and 210 rounds of ammunition), five INSAS rifles (with 13 magazines and 260 rounds of ammunition), two SLR rifles (with 9 magazines and 180 rounds of ammunition), two hand grenades, bulletproof jackets, and various other items from the miscreants’ possession and took them into custody.

The Mahar Column had arrested the 11 Arambai Tenggol militants along with their weapons and had reached Kumbi near Imphal in the morning. However, the column was halted by Meira Paibis (women protesters). When these women protesters attempted to seize the weapons, the army personnel fired several rounds in the air to scatter the protesters.

“The women protesters parked vehicles on the road to block the convoy. Later, they also came onto the road and refused to let the convoy pass through. There were men behind the women. It was a planned blockade in Kumbi. But the army column managed to keep the weapons safe. The weapons could not be snatched,” said an official.

Arambai Tenggol, identified as a radical Meitei group rooted in the valley, stands accused by Kuki groups of instigating violence. The Manipur Police has accused it of committing “many anti-social activities and criminal activities”.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Manipur police denied reports that the “11 armed miscreants” were behind the killing of the 2 CRPF personnel on April 27.

This isn't the first time that women protesters from both conflicting factions — Meiteis and Kukis — have intervened and stopped convoys. In February this year, during the abduction of a senior police officer from his residence, Arambai Tenggol militants received support from women protesters.

In June last year, the army had said that women activists in Manipur were intentionally obstructing routes and meddling in security force operations. The army had also released a 2.12-minute-long video, a collage of different operations, in which women protesters allegedly disrupted the security force’s operations.

Image source: X