Manipur Violence: Six people were killed in a new wave of violence this morning in Jiribam district, Manipur, according to police reports. Suspected Kuki insurgents launched an attack on Nungchappi village, located 229 km from the state capital Imphal, resulting in the death of a 63-year-old man named Yurembam Kulendra Singha. This incident followed a rocket-propelled bomb attack in Moirang town a day earlier, which killed an elderly man from the Meitei community who was praying at the time.
The latest violence also included a gunfight between armed groups of the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, who refer to themselves as “village defense volunteers.” The skirmish resulted in the deaths of five additional individuals.
In response to the escalating violence, the Jiribam Superintendent of Police (SP) and a police team were dispatched to the area but came under fire from the insurgents. The police managed to control the situation after retaliating, according to their statement.
In Imphal, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) K. Kabib provided further details, stating that Kuki militants had previously attacked and fired at several fringe areas, including Bishnupur and the Churachandpur border. The security forces responded with combing operations that led to the destruction of two militant bunkers. The violence escalated with a long-range rocket attack on Moirang that killed one senior citizen and injured six others.
The situation in Jiribam is particularly tense as it was the site of recent peace talks between Meitei and Hmar leaders, along with security force commanders. These talks aimed to address the conflict but faced criticism from Churachandpur-based Kuki groups, who felt their interests were not represented and accused the peace efforts of being driven by the Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
In response to recent attacks, including the use of weaponized drones by suspected Kuki insurgents—a first on Indian soil—the police have deployed an anti-drone system and are conducting aerial surveillance and combing operations in both hill and valley areas. Social media monitoring has also been implemented to identify and address instigators of violence.
On Friday evening, there were attempts to loot weapons from the 2nd and 7th Manipur Rifles camps in Imphal, which were thwarted by security forces using blank rounds and tear gas. Two policemen were injured during this incident.
Residents in Imphal expressed frustration with both the state and central governments, criticizing the inadequate response to the attacks. “People are being killed in their homes, despite the presence of over 50,000 central force personnel,” said Imphal resident M. Nirmala Devi.
Key Points:
New Violence in Jiribam: Six people were killed in a new attack on Nungchappi village, Jiribam district, by suspected Kuki insurgents. One victim was identified as Yurembam Kulendra Singha, 63.
Previous Attack: The violence followed a rocket-propelled bomb attack in Moirang town, which killed an elderly man from the Meitei community.
Gunfight: A gunfight between armed groups from the Meitei and Kuki communities resulted in the deaths of five additional individuals. The groups involved are called “village defense volunteers.”
Police Response: The Jiribam Superintendent of Police and a team were fired upon by insurgents but managed to control the situation after retaliation.
Additional Violence: The Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) reported that Kuki militants had previously attacked areas including Bishnupur and Churachandpur, leading to further casualties.
Peace Talks Criticized: Recent peace talks in Jiribam, involving Meitei and Hmar leaders, faced criticism from Kuki groups, who felt their interests were not represented.
Anti-Drone Measures: An anti-drone system has been deployed after the first weaponized drone attacks in India, with ongoing aerial surveillance and combing operations.
Looting Attempt: There was an attempted weapon looting from Manipur Rifles camps in Imphal, which was stopped by security forces. Two policemen were injured in the process.
Public Frustration: Residents in Imphal are frustrated with the government’s response to the violence, citing inadequate protection despite the presence of significant security forces.
