Unprecedented violence hits Jiribam in Manipur following ethnic strife

In a disturbing escalation of ethnic strife that has been brewing since last May, unidentified assailants targeted government infrastructure and residential areas in Manipur’s Jiribam district, leading to significant damage and heightened tensions. The attacks, which occurred early Saturday, involved the torching of two police outposts, a forest office, and over 70 houses across several villages, marking a severe disruption in an area previously untouched by the ongoing conflict.

Violent Outbreak and Government Action

The violence erupted following the discovery of 59-year-old Soibam Saratkumar Singh’s body in Lamtai Khunou village on Thursday. Singh, missing since June 6 after visiting his farm, is believed to have been murdered, with villagers pointing fingers at an opposing community. This incident sparked immediate retaliatory attacks, resulting in the torching of Jiri Mukh and Chotobekra police outposts and the Goakhal forest beat office shortly after midnight.

In response to the escalating violence, authorities evacuated over 200 individuals to safety, housing them in a sports complex-turned-relief camp. Further exacerbating the situation, empty houses in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra villages were set on fire. A farmhouse belonging to a member of the opposing community was also burned down in retaliation.

To stabilize the situation, the Manipur government dispatched additional police commandos from the capital, Imphal, to Jiribam, located approximately 220 kilometers away. In a decisive administrative move, Jiribam’s Superintendent of Police, A Ghanashyam Sharma, was replaced by M Pradip Singh.

Community and Political Reactions

Local residents, already tense from the recent Lok Sabha elections, protested outside the Jiribam police station, demanding the return of their licensed firearms which had been confiscated. With the situation still volatile, district authorities imposed an indefinite curfew, severely restricting movement and aiming to prevent further violence. Neighboring Tamenglong district also declared an indefinite curfew in areas close to Jiribam.

Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, the newly-elected Congress MP for Inner Manipur, expressed his concerns about the timing and motives behind the attacks. “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,” he commented, highlighting the political dimensions of the crisis.

Looking Forward

As Jiribam grapples with this new wave of violence, the focus shifts to how the government and local communities will navigate the challenges of reconciliation and security. The immediate priority remains the safety and well-being of the evacuated residents, along with the restoration of order in the district. However, the long-term solutions will require addressing the underlying ethnic tensions that have led to such outbreaks of violence.