Imphal, Manipur, February 28 (HBTV): In a bizarre and worrying development in Manipur, Manipur police commandoes have laid down their arms demanding a free hand in dealing with armed individuals  and in protest against the abduction of a police officer. 

The move comes after armed individuals attacked the additional superintendent of police (operations) of Imphal West on Tuesday. The West Imphal police commandos surrendered their arms in protest and demanded a free hand to retaliate amid attacks by armed individuals, an occurrence that has come to characterize another aspect of the ethnic violence in the state that started in May 2023.    

Sources confirmed that no arrests have yet been made.         

Armed individuals numbering approximately 200 on vehicles stormed the residence of additional superintendent of Police, Moirangthem Amit Singh under Porompat Police Station of Imphal East district.       

The armed men vandalized household properties at the residence. On receiving information, additional security forces rushed to the spot.               

In the resulting police action, two individuals namely one Rabinash Moirangthem, 24, of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai; and a Kangujam Bhimsen, 20, of Khongman Bashikhong sustained injuries. The injured were admitted to JNIMS Hospital in Porompat.                            

The police officer and one of his escorts were abducted by the armed individuals. 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.        

National media outlets quoted police sources as having reported that the police officer was abducted allegedly by cadres of a radicalized Meitei organization called the Arambai Tenggol.   

The Manipur Police, in a statement, added that Imphal East additional superintendent of police Amit Singh was later rescued after a swift action by police and security forces, the reports said.