The Indian Army has released 12 militants in Manipur’s Itham village to end a standoff with a women-led mob of over 1,200 people. The Army made this decision to avoid endangering civilian lives. The standoff lasted for almost a day, with the Army surrounded by the mob. The militants were handed over to a local leader. The Army praised the commander in charge for making a “mature decision” that portrayed the “humane face of the Indian Army.”
Earlier in the day, the Army apprehended the 12 militants belonging to the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group. The group was responsible for various attacks, including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015.
The mob, consisting of 1,200 to 1,500 people, led by women, prevented the Army from proceeding with the operation. Among the militants was Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, a wanted terrorist who may have been involved in the Dogra ambush tragedy.
The clashes in Manipur were a result of tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land and the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community. The violence has caused over 100 deaths in clashes between the Meiteis and the Kuki tribe.
Overall, the Army’s decision to release the militants was driven by the desire to avoid casualties among civilians and demonstrated their commitment to humaneness in dealing with the situation.
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