Unidentified gunmen torched govt offices, including two police outposts, and more than 70 houses in several villages of Manipur’s Jiribam district bordering Assam early Saturday, shattering peace in the north-eastern state already grappling with ethnic strife since May last year, reports Prabin Kalita.
Jiribam, known for its diverse ethnic composition of Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris, had remained unaffected by the sectarian conflict until the latest flare-up.
However, tension erupted Thursday evening after the body of 59-year-old Soibam Saratkumar Singh was discovered in Lamtai Khunou village. Singh had been missing since he went to his farm on June 6, and villagers accused another community of his murder.
Following this, authorities evacuated Friday over 200 men, women and children to relief camps set up in a sports complex. Security sources said armed men torched Jiri Mukh and Chotobekra police outposts and Goakhal forest beat office after midnight.
Intrigued at violence right after polls: Manipur Cong MP
Houses in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra villages, which were empty following the evacuation, were also set ablaze. In retaliation, members of the targeted community burned down an unoccupied farmhouse belonging to the other group.
Manipur govt on Saturday sent reinforcements and police commandos from Imphal to Jiribam, about 220km away. The govt also transferred Jiribam SP A Ghanashyam Sharma, replacing him with M Pradip Singh as the new senior SP.
Earlier, locals staged a protest in front of Jiribam police station, demanding the return of their licensed firearms which had been taken from them before the Lok Sabha elections. Since Thursday night, district authorities have enforced an indefinite curfew, prohibiting movement of people outside their homes. Authorities in neighbouring Tamenglong district have announced an indefinite curfew in areas bordering Jiribam.
“I am quite intrigued that this happened just after the elections. This will certainly be the handiwork of those people who don’t love Manipur, who want the crisis to continue for their benefit, personal or otherwise, to destroy Manipur,” said Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, newly-elected Congress MP for Inner Manipur, commenting on the situation.
Jiribam, known for its diverse ethnic composition of Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris, had remained unaffected by the sectarian conflict until the latest flare-up.
However, tension erupted Thursday evening after the body of 59-year-old Soibam Saratkumar Singh was discovered in Lamtai Khunou village. Singh had been missing since he went to his farm on June 6, and villagers accused another community of his murder.
Following this, authorities evacuated Friday over 200 men, women and children to relief camps set up in a sports complex. Security sources said armed men torched Jiri Mukh and Chotobekra police outposts and Goakhal forest beat office after midnight.
Intrigued at violence right after polls: Manipur Cong MP
Houses in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra villages, which were empty following the evacuation, were also set ablaze. In retaliation, members of the targeted community burned down an unoccupied farmhouse belonging to the other group.
Manipur govt on Saturday sent reinforcements and police commandos from Imphal to Jiribam, about 220km away. The govt also transferred Jiribam SP A Ghanashyam Sharma, replacing him with M Pradip Singh as the new senior SP.
Earlier, locals staged a protest in front of Jiribam police station, demanding the return of their licensed firearms which had been taken from them before the Lok Sabha elections. Since Thursday night, district authorities have enforced an indefinite curfew, prohibiting movement of people outside their homes. Authorities in neighbouring Tamenglong district have announced an indefinite curfew in areas bordering Jiribam.
“I am quite intrigued that this happened just after the elections. This will certainly be the handiwork of those people who don’t love Manipur, who want the crisis to continue for their benefit, personal or otherwise, to destroy Manipur,” said Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, newly-elected Congress MP for Inner Manipur, commenting on the situation.
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