At least six people were killed in Manipur’s Jiribam district as violence flared up once again in the conflict-torn state. The resurgence of violence shattered nearly three months of fragile peace, local officials reported.
According to police reports, the unrest began at around 4 a.m. when armed Kuki militants launched an attack on Nungchepi village. Among the victims was 63-year-old Yurembam Kulendra Singha, a member of the Meitei community, who was killed in his sleep. The militants then moved to Rasidpur village, approximately 7 km away, sparking deadly confrontations with local volunteers and police. This resulted in the deaths of four more people from the Meitei community.
Additional Director General of Police (Administration), K. Jayenta, confirmed the details, stating, “The armed miscreants continued firing and advancing toward Rasidpur village. Local volunteers responded, leading to a gunfight, during which 41-year-old Baspatimayum Lakhi Kumar Sharma, another resident of the district, was killed.”
During the search operation, police discovered the bodies of three suspected militants, all wearing combat gear. Later, another body was recovered from the area, bringing the total death toll to six. Authorities have since deployed additional forces to restore peace.
Jiribam, located 220 km from Imphal and near the Assam border, is a melting pot of ethnic communities, including Meiteis, Kukis, Bengalis, Nepalis, and Nagas. While the district had remained relatively peaceful during the broader Manipur conflict, the murder of a local resident in June 2023 had already raised tensions. Saturday’s violence, the deadliest in the state this year, underscores escalating ethnic hostilities.
In parallel, separate gunfights erupted in Sugnu and Napat villages in Kakching district, bordering Churachandpur, though no casualties were reported in those incidents.
Amid the renewed clashes, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh called an emergency meeting with lawmakers to address the deteriorating law and order situation, followed by discussions with Governor Lakshman Acharya.
Adding to the growing insecurity, militants have increasingly turned to advanced technologies such as drones and rockets. The day before the Jiribam attacks, militants fired rockets in Bishnupur district, killing one person and injuring five others. Drones, once used solely for surveillance, are now being used to drop explosives. Since September 1, 18 drones have been shot down by security forces, prompting the state to implement anti-drone measures.
The conflict in Manipur, which began in May last year as an ethnic clash between the majority Meitei and Kuki tribal groups, has claimed over 230 lives and displaced around 50,000 people. The violence has left the state deeply divided, with communities living in fear and law enforcement fractured along ethnic lines.
