INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
IMPHAL: The Indian Army said that women activists were deliberately blocking routes and interfering in operations by security forces in
violence-hit Manipur.The Army personnel also urged people to help it in restoring peace in the Northeastern state.The Army's Spears Corps
shared a video on Twitter of some incidents and termed them "unwarranted interference" detrimental to the timely response by security
forces.The statement came two days after a stand-off in Imphal East's Itham village between the Army and a mob led by women that forced
the forces to let go of 12 militants holed up there."Women activists in #Manipur are deliberately blocking routes and interfering in
Operations of Security Forces
Such unwarranted interference is detrimental to the timely response by Security Forces during critical situations to save lives and
property."Indian Army appeals to all sections of population to support our endeavours in restoring peace
Help us to Help Manipur," it tweeted.The stand-off in Itham went on throughout Saturday, and ended after a "mature decision" by the
operational commander keeping in view the sensitivity of use of force against large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such
action, officials said.Twelve members of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group, involved in a number of attacks,
including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015, were holed up in the village, they said.The security personnel left with seized arms and
ammunition.More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state
so far.Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei
community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the
Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
