Army releases 12 militants after a mob of 1200 attacks

The Army made "a mature decision" to leave with the seized weapons and ammunition after engaging in a standoff with a mob led by women and security forces who had cordoned off the Itham village in Imphal East where 12 members of the militant group KYKL were hiding.

They claimed that the Meitei militant group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) was responsible for several attacks, including the 2015 ambush of a 6 Dogra squad.

The Itham standoff lasted all day Saturday before being resolved by a "mature decision by the operational commander keeping in view the sensitivity of use of kinetic force against large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action", they added.

Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, a wanted terrorist who may have been the brains behind the tragic Dogra attack, was among those hiding out in the area, according to officials.