Security forces had to “hand over” 12 militants, including the alleged mastermind of an ambush in which 18 soldiers were killed, to a "local leader" following a standoff with a mob in a village in Manipur's East Imphal district on Saturday, the Indian Army has said.

The army said the security forces took a "mature decision" and left with the arms and ammunition seized. It said the operational commander's decision reflected the “humane face of the Indian Army to avoid any collateral damage during the ongoing unrest in Manipur”.

The militants belonged to the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant outfit. They included self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, who the army said was the “mastermind” of the 6 Dogra ambush in which 18 soldiers were killed and 11 injured in June 2015 in Chandel district bordering Myanmar.

The army said: “A mob of approximately 1,200-1,500 led by women and the local leader immediately surrounded the target area and prevented the security forces from going ahead with the operation. Repeated appeals to the aggresive mob to let the security forces carry on with operation as per law did not yield any positive result.”

The “local leader” was not identified.

The army added: “Keeping in view the sensitivity of the use of kinetic force against a large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action, considered decision was taken to hand over all 12 cadres to the local leader. Own columns lifted the cordon and left the area with weapons and war-like stores recovered from insurgents.”

The army appealed to the people of Manipur to assist the security forces in maintaining law and order to bring peace and stability in the state in turmoil since May 3.

A security official told The Telegraph that the decision to hand over the militants to the local leader was for the “safety of the public” during the standoff which lasted for about three hours.

The official said the unified command was “deliberating” on a strategy to handle crowds in the violence-wracked state.

Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF chief who was appointed security adviser on May 4, a day after violence broke out, is heading the unified command.

Mobs have carried out multiple arson attacks both in the hills and the valley, often targeting properties of elected representatives. About 5,036 cases of arson have been registered since May 3.

Violence is continuing despite the presence of 36,000 troops on the ground. Over 4,200 arms and a huge quantity of arms have been looted by mobs in two waves from police armouries and stations, of which only 1,800 have been recovered or returned.