Women groups call 24-hour shutdown in Manipur's valley districts to protest police 'high-handedness'

A shutdown has been called by women groups in Manipur’s five valley districts on Wednesday to protest “police high-handedness” and demand the release of six persons arrested in connection with the looting of arms from the camps of Manipur Rifles. The protests led to confrontation between security forces and women, resulting in tear gas being fired and two women being injured.

The women protesters are demanding the release of six people arrested in connection with a mob attack and arms loot in the camps of the Manipur Rifles. The 24-hour shutdown has been called for Wednesday in five valley districts — Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East.

On February 13, a mob attacked two camps of the Manipur Rifles, resulting in one person being killed and two others being injured in police firing. The deceased had forcefully tried to enter the post of one of the camps of the Manipur Rifles. Manipur Police arrested six persons on February 14, with seven police personnel also being suspended for dereliction of duties.

Furthermore, four Insas Rifles, one AK Ghatak, two magazines of SLR, and 16 small boxes of 9 mm ammunition suspected to be looted from the security forces have been recovered by police. The Manipur government has also ordered a magisterial probe into the looting of arms from the security forces’ camp. The situation remains tense as the protests continue in the state.