Manipur: Police Expressed Concern As Protesters Using Automatic Weapons
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
- Sep 15, 2024
- 373
The Manipur Police on Sunday expressed concern over the use of sophisticated weapons to target security personnel during protests and urged protesters to refrain from using such weapons to make their point.
Range 1 Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) N. Herojeet Singh said, "We want to remind the public that the duty of the police department is to maintain law and order and respond to armed attacks by miscreants. Many of our personnel have suffered casualties during this challenging time."
Emphasizing on the change in the strategy of protests, the DIG said that there has been a change in the methods of protest in the recent movements. Security forces are being targeted. According to him, the protesters are pelting stones, throwing iron pieces from slingshots, firing tear gas shells and using automatic weapons.
He claimed, 'We have evidence of firing from automatic weapons during the protests. Recently an officer and another personnel of the Imphal East Commando were injured in automatic firing in Khabeisoi. There are marks of automatic firing on our vehicles in Kakwa in Imphal West district.'
Appealing for restraint, Singh said, "We would like to say that the police force exercises maximum restraint in dealing with protesters. Though there has been no retaliation from the police in response to firing of automatic weapons, we have reports that protesters get injured when we use minimal, non-lethal anti-riot measures."
On the issue of non-local protesters, the DIG said, "During the protests, we have detained people who came from outside the area. We urge people to use democratic and non-violent methods for their demands. Strict action will be taken against those who enter highly sensitive areas and destroy public property."
Along with this, he said, 'The police is a part of the community, not the enemy. Protests aimed at targeting and attacking the police should be stopped immediately.