Meitei women group's actions under lens amid Manipur strife

On the afternoon of July 16, when an Assam Rifles truck carrying food supplies and vegetables for troops reached Kakching in Manipur, hundreds of Meira Paibis (collective of Meitei women) allegedly forced the truck to halt, refused to let it go further, and looted the food.

- Prawesh Lama

The FIR filed by the Assam Rifles said the women threatened to burn the truck and later fled with around 4000 kg food items meant for its soldiers. Manipur Police have registered a case against the group. HT has seen a copy of the FIR.

In Manipur, where ethnic clashes between Kuki and Meities have led to at least 152 deaths and a fragile law and order situation persists with occasional shootouts being reported between the two communities (and also between security forces and armed militia from both sides), security officials on the ground say Meira Paibis are not making things easy breaking the law with impunity, and aiding militia.

In response, the Meira Paibis have accused security forces, especially Assam Rifles of bias (in favour of Kukis) and not doing enough to prevent violence in Meitei villages. In different parts of Imphal East and West, the women are on a sit-in protest demanding the removal of Assam Rifles. At public meetings and media interactions, the Meira Paibis have accused Assam Rifles of using excessive forces against women protesters, even helping armed Kuki militia, allegations that have been denied by the force.

On August 7, in the backdrop of the protests by the women groups, Assam Rifles (ARS) personnel were replaced with civil police and CRPF at a check post in Moirang between Bishnupur and Kangvai in Manipur. The order, which pertained to only one checkpoint, was issued by the additional director general of police (law and order) and did not cite any reason for the same. AR and paramilitary forces remain posted across the state to restore normalcy.