‘Need more women forces to bring order’

Officials say state needs Rapid Action Force personnel, as Assam Rifles, with skeletal presence of women, are not trained for a law-and-order situation

More women battalion are needed in Manipur to tackle those posing as ‘Meira Paibis’ (women torch bearers) as they have not only “prevented” movement of central paramilitary forces in the strife-torn state but also “helped” in carrying out serious crimes, according to security officials.

The Assam Rifles has a skeletal presence of women and the officials feel that they are not trained for a law-and-order situation. Officials engaged in maintaining law and order in the state have been pressing for more women paramilitary forces in the state especially those from Rapid Action Force (RAF), who are completely equipped with their riot gear.

“You see these women calling themselves as Meira Paibi often threaten to disrobe themselves if pressured. Now, when an army convoy is proceeding towards another destination in the hills, these women with sticks block the roads,” an official said on the condition of anonymity.

Tamil Nadu Youth Congress members protests against the Centre, in Chennai. Pic/PTI

Officials said there have been instances when reinforcements moved by the Army or Assam Rifles to prevent an attack or intervene in an armed conflict have been stopped by these armed ‘vigilantes’ who ask everyone—be it an officer or a jawan—to show their identity cards.

These so-called women vigilantes were also instrumental in the release of 12 cadres of banned KYKL terror group in June which included the main accused in the killing 18 soldiers in 2015, officials said. Traditionally, Meira Paibis have been torchbearers in the fight against social injustice of various forms in Manipur.

‘Modiji, come to Parliament and speak in detail’

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make an elaborate statement in Parliament on the Manipur situation. saying he could have dismissed the state chief minister instead of making “false equivalence” with Congress governed states if he was angry over the matter. “Narendramodi ji, You did not make a statement inside Parliament, yesterday. If you were angry then instead of making false equivalence with Congress governed states, you could have first dismissed your chief minister (of) Manipur,” Kharge said on Twitter.

I couldn’t protect my wife: Kargil war veteran

The husband of one of two women paraded naked and molested by a group of men in Manipur is a Kargil war veteran who rued that though he protected the country but could not save his wife. He had served the Indian Army as a subedar of the Assam Regiment. “I fought for the nation in the Kargil war and was also in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. I protected the nation but am dejected that after my retirement, I could not protect my home, my wife and fellow villagers... I am sad, depressed,” he told a Hindi news channel. He said that on the fateful May 4 morning, a mob burnt down several houses in the locality, disrobed the two women and made them walk on the village paths in front of people. “Police were present but took no action. I want that all those people who burnt the houses and humiliated the women get exemplary punishment,” he said. Four people have been arrested in connection with the case on Thursday, a day after the video surfaced.

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No of women personnel deployed now

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