Across Asia: India

Villagers given weapons

Authorities will arm 500 villagers with semiautomatic rifles in remote northeastern India to protect themselves from separatist rebel groups that have targeted civilians and attacked isolated villages, officials said yesterday.

The state government of Manipur's decision to enlist civilians as "special police officers" in its longtime battle against insurgents follows attacks that sparked outrage in two jungle villages and left four people dead, including two teenage girls.

But the new strategy has drawn criticism from local rights groups who argue that arming villagers could increase violence in the area.

(China Daily 05/05/2008 page6)