Normal life in Imphal valley was affected on Tuesday due to a bandh called by Meira Paibis, the women vigilante group in conflict-hit Manipur, demanding the release of five Meitei youths who were arrested recently with "illegal sophisticated weapons."
Police fired tear gas shells to disperse mobs who allegedly tried to create disturbance during the bandh call. Women protesters, however, blocked several roads and forced shopkeepers to down their shutters in parts of Imphal as security was beefed up to prevent escalation of violence during the protests.
The protesters claimed that the five youths arrested by police were not "armed miscreants" but "youth volunteers" who tried to protect their villages from attacks by "narco terrorists" belonging to the Kuki community. Kuki groups, on the other hand, claim that such "armed miscreants" are targeting the Kukis and are being assisted by police and Meira Paibis in carrying out attacks on the Kukis.
Manipur police said the five youths were arrested on September 16 as they were found in possession of sophisticated illegal weapons and were impersonating as police personnel.
The arrest resulted in a protest by a large number of people including the Meitei women, who tried to storm into Porompat police station in Meitei-dominated Imphal East district. Police resorted to firing of tear gas to disperse the mob.
"Strict legal action is being taken against these anti-social elements. Manipur police is determined to carry on such raids and make all out efforts to bring peace and normalcy in the state. Simultaneously, Manipur police appeals to the general public to refrain from such protest and co-operate with the law enforcement agencies in bringing peace and normalcy in the state," said a statement issued by Manipur police on Monday. Police said the five were misusing police uniforms and were impersonating as police personnel.
The five were produced in a court and were remanded to police custody for interrogation and further investigation.
More than 175 people have died and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the violence between sections of the Meitei and Kuki community since May 3. Sporadic incidents of firing involving both the Meiteis and the Kukis have still remained a concern in the state. The drive against such "armed miscreants" was launched as the state police faced allegations of "partisan role" towards the Meiteis.