Two Meitei Men Found Dead, 5 Still Missing Day After Fresh Violence In Manipur's Jiribam

During the search operation for missing persons, the bodies of Laishram Balen and Maibam Kesho were detected in debris in Jakuradhor Karong area where few shops were set on fire by suspected militants

The bodies of two elderly Meitei men have been recovered on Tuesday morning in Manipur's Jiribam district day after the security forces shot down 11 suspected militants.

Earlier on Monday, police said that five people, who were living in a relief camp in the area, have gone missing since the gunfight. 

During the search operation for missing persons, the bodies of Laishram Balen and Maibam Kesho were detected in debris in Jakuradhor Karong area where few shops were set on fire by suspected militants, news agency PTI reported.

The two elderly men died after the insurgents torched a few shops in the Jakuradhor Karong area. 

The gunfight unfolded in the Jakuradhor and Borobekra areas in Jiribam district, close to the hills of neighbouring Hmar-majority Pherzawl district. Police said that the gunfight took place after a CRPF post located at Jakuradhor and the nearby Borobekra police station came under fire. 

In Jiribam, the situation remained calm but tense even as policemen patrolled the vulnerable points. The district administration imposed prohibitory orders to avoid any untoward incident in the area. A shutdown has been observed since 5 am on Tuesday in Kuki-Zo majority areas in the hills to protest against the killing of suspected insurgents.

Eleven suspected militants were killed in the fierce gunfight with security forces on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, fired indiscriminately at a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Jiribam district.

Two CRPF personnel also sustained injuries during the heavy exchange of fire at Borobekra, and the condition of one of them was stated to be critical. The situation in Jiribam remained calm but tense on Tuesday morning with policemen patrolling at vulnerable points.

Locals and security forces recovered several improvised mortar shells in two villages of Imphal West district this morning, another official said. Operations were continuing to flush out militants, and reinforcement teams consisting of Assam Rifles, CRPF have been deployed in disturbed areas, the officer added.