India, Feb. 28 -- A section of Manipur Police commandos staged a symbolic "arms down" protest in Imphal on Wednesday a day after a top police officer was abducted from outside his house in retaliation for an attempt to detain militants in ethnic violence-hit state. The officer was rescued after a two-hour-long operation.

Videos from Imphal purportedly showed dozens of commandos laying down their weapons at a compound of their unit. "...they are unhappy with the state government for not giving them a free hand to tackle armed miscreants," said an official on condition of anonymity.

Police and administrative officials did not respond to calls seeking details of the protest even as no arrests were made until Wednesday morning in connection...