Security Forces Rescue 75 Women From Armed Miscreants After 'Heavy' Gunfight In Manipur

The Assam Rifles along with the army "brought down heavy fire and repelled the misadventure of the armed miscreants" in Uyok village in Manipur.

Security forces during the heavy gunfight against armed miscreants in Manipur's Uyok village.

Source : X/@official_dgar

The Indian Army along with the Assam Rifles safely rescued villagers from the armed attack by miscreants in Manipur. According to a statement issued by the military on Sunday, the army engaged in a fierce gunfight with the suspected insurgents, saving the lives of 75 Meira Paibis (women activists) in the village of Uyok. 

The Assam Rifles posted about the incident on X and stated that the security forces "brought down heavy fire and repelled the misadventure of the armed miscreants".

"The Indian Army & Assam Rifles continue staying steadfast in their resolve to bring normalcy in Manipur and maintaining law and order," the post read. 

ARMY & ASSAM RIFLES SAFELY RESCUE VILLAGERS FROM ARMED ATTACK BY MISCREANTS@adgpi and #AssamRifles safely led the rescue and evacuation of around 75 Meirapaibis during an attack by armed miscreants. The Security Forces repelled the misadventurism by bringing down heavy fire and… pic.twitter.com/Dupal1Q5se

— The Assam Rifles (@official_dgar) May 19, 2024

Meira Paibis is a women-only social and cultural instituition of the Meiti community in Manipur.

Along with the post, the Assam Rifles had also posted a visual of two soldiers firing at the suspected insurgents.

According to media reports, the women were unaware of the approaching militants, while they were guarding the Wariocing area of Bishnupur district, located near the foothills of Kangpoki district.

“At around 10:30 p.m., our night vision thermal cameras detected militant movement in the foothills, approaching the women guarding their villages on the road in the buffer zone,” Hindustan Times reported citing an Assam Rifles official, who also said that the miscreants had reached within 500 meters of the women.

Manipur has been a violence hot bed ever since the northeastern state was hit by the ethnic violence, which broke between Kuki-Zo and Meiti community in May last year.

In the past one year, over 220 people have lost their lives and several have been internally displaced.