Five people were killed in renewed violence in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Saturday morning, according to police reports. The violence began when militants entered a remote house and shot a man dead in his sleep. The incident led to a fierce exchange of fire between armed members of two warring communities, resulting in the deaths of four others, including three militants.
Earlier this week, arsonists, suspected to be “village volunteers,” burned down an abandoned house of a retired police officer in Jakuradhor. The Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee (Pherzawl and Jiribam) has denied involvement in this incident.
The violence persists despite a recent agreement between representatives of the Meitei and Hmar communities, aimed at restoring peace. However, this agreement has been criticized by some tribal groups not involved in the discussions.
Since May of last year, over 200 people have been killed and thousands displaced in ethnic clashes between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo groups from the adjoining hills. Jiribam, previously unaffected by the conflict, has experienced unrest following the killing of a man from one community by militants of another.
The situation remains tense, with significant disruption and ongoing security concerns.
