Imphal, June 17: The Manipur cabinet tonight decided to respond positively to demands from various parts of the state to open special village protection forces.

The decision comes at a time when Heirok in Thoubal district is hesitating to open a special police officer (SPO) force in the village following militant threats.

Sources said despite militants groups warning Heirok against accepting weapons, the government was receiving demands from several villages, but declined to reveal the names of those seeking the SPO force.

Earlier in the day, criticising the Okram Ibobi Singh government for failing to protect the life and property of people and for arming civilians, the BJP reiterated its demand for central intervention in the state.

“The Congress-led government has failed in its primary duty of protecting the life and property of the people. Heirok, where villagers have demanded weapons for self-defence, is a glaring example of this. The Centre should intervene immediately,” BJP national general secretary (organisation), Ram Lal, told reporters here today.

“Arms and violence have no place in a democratic set- up. The problem of insurgency should be solved by political dialogues and not with weapons,” he added.

The party’s state unit president, H. Borobabu Singh, said the arming of Heirok was an attempt by the government to trigger more bloodshed. “The BJP strongly condemns the policy of arming civilians.”