Manipur Police Commandos Lay Down Arms in Protest Over Armed Attack on Additional SP

In the latest development over armed militant attack on Additional SP (Ops) of Imphal West, Manipur, the Manipur Police commando personnel on Wednesday laid down their arms in protest and demanded they be allowed to retaliate when attacked.

The police commandos of all the five valley districts put down their weapon asking for action against the Meitei radical group, Arambai Tenggol and no hindrance from political executives when the forces act against the outfit, officials said.

They are protesting against Tuesday's incident during which a group of Meira Paibis (women's volunteer group) and cadres of Arambai Tenggol kidnapped the police officer and beat up other personnel guarding him.

On February 27, the residence of Addl SP, IW, Moirangthem Amit, MPS, S/o Dr. Kulla Singh, located at Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai under Porompat Police Station, Imphal East was attacked by the armed miscreants numbering about 200 coming in vehicles. The armed miscreants vandalized the household properties at the residence including four vehicles in the premises.

Sources have confirmed that no arrests have been yet made on the incident.

On getting information, additional security forces rushed to the spot. In the resulting police action, two individuals namely Rabinash Moirangthem, 24 yrs s/o M. Ranjan of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai and Kangujam Bhimsen, 20 yrs c/o K. Abosana of Khongman Bashikhong sustained injuries on their persons and were admitted to JNIMS Hospital, Porompat.

In the midst of the incident, the Additional SP and one of his escorts were abducted by the armed miscreants. They were later rescued from Kwakeithel Konjeng Leikai area and admitted to Raj Medicity for medical treatment. A case has been registered in this regard and investigation has started.

In the resulting firing incident, two individuals namely Rabinash Moirangthem, 24 yrs s/o M. Ranjan of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai and Kangujam Bhimsen, 20 yrs c/o K. Abosana of Khongman Bashikhong also sustained injuries on their persons and were admitted to JNIMS Hospital, Porompat.

The Army had to be called in as fresh tension mounted in Imphal valley on Tuesday and four columns of the Assam Rifles were deployed after the senior police officer was abducted.

Senior police officials were talking to their personnel assuring them that strict actions would be taken against the perpetrators.

"You can't keep snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your neighbour. This was stated by the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Pakistan in 2011 but today it holds good for Manipur where a section of the community was welcoming the return of these terror and radical groups", a senior security official said.

Mention may be made that the self-styled leader of Arambai Tenggol, Robin Kwairakpam of Sekmai was summoned by the Police for his criminal activities a few months ago. The militant's house was raided few days ago by the same police but failed to arrest the culprit.

The latest attack on the Additional SP Moirangthem Amit was a result of the police arrest warrant of the Arambai Tenggol leader, Robin Kwairakpam, who deliberately evaded from the law enforcing agency.