Curfew In Jiribam, Fears For A Rerun After Fresh Violence In Manipur

Fresh violence has been reported from at least two different parts of Manipur, after a lull of few months following the yearlong ethnic clashes starting from may 2024. Curfew has been imposed in Jiribam district on Monday after several Kuki-Zo organisations called for a complete shutdown in the hills following the encounter of 10 suspected militants. At least 10 suspected armed militants were killed in an encounter on Monday (November 11) with the security forces in Jiribam. Central Forces launched an operation after a CRPF camp came under attack of militants on Sunday. The hill based organisations, though, have called the deceased their own village volunteers and not militants, terming the killings as excesses. A CRPF soldier, identified as constable Sanjeev Kumar, was injured in the clashes. He had sustained bullet injuries.

In fresh flare up, the a woman farmer was shot dead on Saturday morning after militants opened firing from alleviated foothill area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur. The incident took place at around 11.30am, on Saturday morning, in Saiton area when the woman, along with other farmers, went to the field to tend to the crops and were caught unguarded after militants opened fire targeting the ow-lying paddy filed. Videos, which later went viral on social media, show the chaos as firing began and women running for shelter. But the victim , identified as Ongbi Sofia Devi (34), died at the spot.

This happened a day after a 31-year-old woman teacher belonging to Hmar community was allegedly raped and burnt alive by suspected armed militants in Jiribam district on Friday. Husband of the deceased in the FIR has alleged rape and murder, named valley based groups.

Manipur has witnessed worst violence in may 2023 and in the months following that, which had claimed over 200 lives and more than 60,000 people were displaced. While most parts of 2023, violence happened in Bishnupur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi regions, but January 2024 onwards in fresh flare ups Moreh bordering Myanmar was severely affected.​