1. Over 200 Meitei villagers from Manipur’s Jiribam district relocated to a relief camp after militant violence.
2. Displaced individuals are now sheltered at the Jiri Sports Complex relief camp.
3. Their homes in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra were burned by suspected militants.
Imphal, June 08: More than 200 members of the Meitei community have been evacuated from their villages in Manipur’s Jiribam district and relocated to a newly established relief camp following a violent outbreak triggered by the killing of a man, allegedly by militants, officials reported on Saturday.
The displaced individuals are now sheltered at the Jiri Sports Complex relief camp after their homes in the villages of Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra in Jiribam district were set ablaze by suspected militants.
Most of these evacuees had been living in villages more than 30 kilometers from Jiribam town, necessitating urgent action to ensure their safety.
An official stated, “More security personnel have been rushed to the area” to stabilize the situation and prevent further violence.
In response to the escalating tension, Manipur police have deployed state police commando personnel from the Imphal Valley to Jiribam on Saturday with immediate effect.
This move aims to reinforce local law enforcement and provide additional security to the affected communities.
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The violence erupted on Thursday evening after a 59-year-old man from one community was allegedly killed by militants from another community.
The victim, identified as Soibam Saratkumar Singh, had gone missing after heading to his farm in the morning. His body was later discovered, bearing wounds inflicted by a sharp object, according to a police officer.
The killing sparked outrage among locals, leading to retaliatory actions, including the burning of an abandoned structure.
The tension has been exacerbated by a protest in front of the Jiribam police station, where locals demanded the return of their licensed firearms, which had been confiscated in the wake of recent elections.
Protesters argued that their firearms were necessary for self-defense amidst the growing violence.
Jiribam, known for its diverse ethnic composition, including Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris, had until now remained relatively untouched by the ethnic strife that has plagued Manipur since May of the previous year.
The ongoing ethnic conflict between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the hills-based Kukis has resulted in over 200 deaths and rendered thousands of people homeless, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The violence in Jiribam underscores the fragile nature of peace in the area and the urgent need for effective conflict resolution mechanisms. The government’s response, including the deployment of additional security forces and the establishment of relief camps, highlights the severity of the situation and the critical need to protect vulnerable communities from further harm.
As the situation develops, authorities are focusing on maintaining order and providing relief to the displaced individuals.
The recent incident has drawn attention to the broader issues of ethnic tensions and the need for comprehensive measures to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
The government and local leaders are urged to engage in dialogue and foster an environment of mutual understanding and cooperation to prevent further violence and promote lasting peace in the region.
