Manipur: Armed Militants Open Fire In Jiribam Village As Ethnic Violence Continues In Northeastern State

Ethnic violence continues in Manipur, with a recent attack on a village in Jiribam district. The attack involved militants armed with advanced weapons and explosives.

The ethnic violence in Manipur refuses to die. Fresh unrest erupted in the state's Jiribam district on Saturday when militants launched an attack on a village, reported news agency PTI. The militants, armed with advanced weapons, began firing at the village near Borobekra police station around 5 AM, an official said. They also detonated explosives during the assault, he added.

The ethnic violence in Manipur has gone on for over a year and has claimed more than 200 lives so far.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police forces quickly responded, engaging in a heavy exchange of gunfire with the attackers. Additional security reinforcements were dispatched to the area. So far, no casualty has been reported, but the situation remains tense. Security personnel are working to evacuate elderly residents, women, and children to safer locations.

Borobekra, located approximately 30 kilometres from Jiribam town, is an area surrounded by dense forests and rugged mountainous terrain. The region has seen several similar attacks since ethnic violence erupted in the state in May of last year.

This incident occurred just days after peace talks were held in New Delhi between legislators from the conflicting Meitei and Kuki communities, aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing unrest.

Manipur DGP On Stolen Arms

Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Singh said that the state police are tirelessly working to recover the arms stolen from security forces. He also said that normalcy will only be restored if the widespread possession of weapons in the community is reduced.

During an interaction with reporters at the 133rd Manipur Police Raising Day event, Singh mentioned that the situation in the state has shown signs of improvement. “These are very challenging times, a complex situation, but we have been trying to tackle it with the best possible strength, which we have, and with the cooperation of everybody, including the public, security agencies, CSOs and leaders of all communities,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

He stressed the importance of returning the stolen weapons to the security forces. "The weapons circulating in the society must be returned to the security forces. We are conducting operations to recover these arms daily and we urge the public to help us in this. A significant reduction in the weapons in the society is crucial for normalcy to return, and the Manipur Police is working around the clock to achieve this,” Singh added.

"Looking back at the last year and a half, we can see improvements. Instances of violence, deaths, and injuries have decreased. Although occasional incidents of shooting and arson still occur, security forces remain vigilant, ensuring that the situation does not escalate," he said.

Singh called for both sides of the conflict to engage in dialogue. “As the head of the state police, I urge people from all sides to come forward with suggestions and engage in peaceful discussions. The only way to resolve these issues is through dialogue,” he was quoted as saying by PTI. He also said that the police force employed restraint in certain dire situations due to their commitment to protecting civilians.