Imphal, Manipur, February 29 (HBTV): Reports have emerged that more and more police units in embattled Manipur state are laying down their arms demanding a free hand in dealing with armed attackers and in protest against the abduction of a police officer.
After the Imphal West Police Commandoes laid down their arms, the Imphal East commando unit has reportedly let down their arms.
Likewise, the Bishnupur district police commando unit has also laid down their arms.
Reports earlier said that on Tuesday night, approximately 200 armed members of a radical Meitei group called the Arambai Tenggol allegedly attacked the residence of Imphal West ASP Moirangthem Amit.
The police officer is also being identified by another name M Amit Singh.
Amit Singh and one of his escorts, unidentified at press time, were abducted alleged by the Arambai Tenggol. Police forces then faced off the radical Meitei group and rescued the police officer, reports said.
Following the abduction, Manipur police commandoes on Wednesday threatened to let down their arms and to start cease work strikes against the government. Updates say the move was in protest against the abduction of the police officer besides demanding a free hand to deal with the armed attackers.
The reports about police commandos letting their arms first came from Imphal West Police commando units just when the Manipur Legislative Assembly winter session had started. The commandos’ headquarters were sealed with barbed wire. Reports said it is temporarily closed.
Latter at around noon, reports emerged saying that the Imphal East commando unit members had also laid down their arms.
Further, reports of the Bishnupur district police commando unit laying down their arms surfaced at noon too.
Additional reports also said police commando units of Thoubal district and Kakching district have made a similiar move.
At the time of filing the report, no official was willing to give any statement except that intense meetings were being conducted at press time.