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Manipur Police Files Criminal Case Against Assam Rifles Amid Escalating Controversy
- In a significant development, Manipur Police have taken legal action against Assam Rifles, the country's oldest paramilitary force, for alleged obstruction of duty and criminal intimidation.
- This move follows allegations that personnel from the 9th battalion of Assam Rifles enabled Kuki militants to escape, amid ongoing ethnic violence in the region.
The police allege that personnel from the 9th battalion of the Assam Rifles engaged in an "arrogant act," allowing accused Kuki militants to escape to safety during a critical moment.
Since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, which has claimed more than 150 lives, the Assam Rifles has faced continuous criticism from Meitei civil society groups and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in the valley.
The BJP State leadership lodged a memorandum on August 7 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Assam Rifles of bias and demanding their permanent removal from Manipur. This force, operational along the Myanmar border, is under the Army's control.
The basis for the FIR lies in an incident on August 5 at Kwakta, in the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur area. Here, an armed attack resulted in the murder of a father-son duo and another individual. The Manipur Police claim that the Assam Rifles impeded their search operation to apprehend the suspected attackers, employing armored vehicles to block their passage. A video of the confrontation circulated widely on the same day.
Responding to these allegations, the Army released a statement, affirming its commitment to restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur. They acknowledged occasional misunderstandings between security forces but stressed that these are addressed through joint mechanisms.
The Army highlighted two recent instances aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Assam Rifles. The first instance involved the Assam Rifles Battalion adhering to buffer zone guidelines to prevent violence between communities. The second case pertained to the relocation of the Assam Rifles from an area unrelated to the incident.
The Manipur government had recently ordered the Assam Rifles' replacement from a boundary check post between Churachandpur and Bishnupur.
Amid the ongoing tensions, there have been occurrences of women's groups inspecting identity cards of Central forces and blocking their movement.
The Kuki community, meanwhile, has accused the State police of inciting violence against them in collaboration with vigilante groups.
The FIR was registered by sub-inspector N. Devdas Singh, officer-in-charge of the Phougakchao Ikhai police station in Bishnupur district, on August 5 against the personnel of the 9th battalion, Assam Rifles. The charges include actions such as disobeying the law with intent to harm, obstructing a public servant, threats to public servants, wrongful restraint, assault or criminal force, and criminal intimidation.
