Manipur Police Files Case Against Paramilitary Force Assam Rifles
Just hours after the central paramilitary force, Assam Rifles, was withdrawn from a district in violence-hit Manipur, a police case has been filed against the force personnel, sources have told NDTV.
It is alleged that the Assam Rifles personnel obstructed the state police from arresting men who were allegedly behind the killing of three people last Saturday in Bishnupur district.
The Assam Rifles, whose administrative control rests with the Union Home Ministry and operational control with the Army, is yet to respond to these allegations.
The FIR copy, available with NDTV, was filed on August 5, hours after the alleged standoff between Manipur police and Assam Rifles personnel surfaced on social media.
In the video, which is available with NDTV, the Manipur police commandos are seen accusing and arguing with Assam Rifles personnel for interfering in their operation while chasing suspected militants.
Numerous videos of bitter arguments between Assam rifles and Manipur police commandos have surfaced on social media platforms in the past three months.
“On reaching the Kutub Wali Masjid located at Kwakta ward 8 along Pholjang road, the state police teams were stopped, and their way was blocked by the personnel of the 9 Assam Rifles by keeping and parking their Casper vehicle in middle of the Kwakta Pholjang road, obstructing in discharging their law bound duty,” read the FIR filed by officer in charge of Phougakchao Ikhai police station of Bishnupur district.
The Meira Paibi, the vigilante group of Meitei women, yesterday organised protest demonstrations against the Assam Rifles in five districts of the Manipur Valley, alleging that the paramilitary force had “unleashed atrocities” on the Meitei people.
Hundreds of women carrying placards and banners held demonstrations throughout the day, demanding withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from the five valley districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.
Earlier today, the Assam Rifles personnel were replaced with CRPF at a vital checkpoint in Moirang Lamkhai of Bishnupur district.
