Members of the Meira Paibis on Tuesday “secured” the release of 11 Meitei village volunteers with arms in the Kumbi area of Bishnupur district of strife-hit Manipur from central forces after hours of confrontation leading to escalation of tension in the area.

Sources said the Meira Paibis (women torch-bearers) gathered in huge numbers since Tuesday morning after receiving reports that personnel of the 2nd Mahar Regiment had detained the village volunteers with arms during an operation that started on Monday night. They had also seized two vehicles.

The women confronted the army personnel to release the volunteers and also sought the return of the arms and the vehicles because the village volunteers were only protecting their people from possible attacks from Kuki-Zos.

Bishnupur is a Meitei-majority district where two CRPF personnel were killed in an attack by armed miscreants last week in the Naranseina, which is about 13km from Kumbi. Biashnupur borders Kuki-Zo majority Churachandpur.

People from both the warring groups are guarding their respective areas soon after the conflict began on May 3 last year.

A report from a daily newspaper said the army personnel released the volunteers and deposited the weapons with the Bishnupur district following a meeting between an MLA, SP and army officials and women protesters around 2pm.