The situation in Manipur’s Jiribam district remained tense but under control on Sunday, following a fresh outbreak of violence where suspected militants set ablaze two police outposts and over 70 houses.
The violence, which erupted on Saturday, has prompted the deployment of additional security forces in the affected areas.
"The situation is tense but under control in the wake of violent disturbances that broke out in Jiribam district in which miscreants torched two police pickets, a forest beat office, and several houses belonging to both Meitei and Kuki communities," stated the Manipur Police.
A senior police officer reported that more than 70 houses were burned down in the villages of Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra.
The police are actively monitoring social media for updates that could incite communal tensions and have urged the public to refrain from spreading unfounded or unverified information.
The violence began on Thursday evening after suspected militants killed Soibam Saratkumar Singh, a 59-year-old man, who went missing after going to his farm on June 6. His body was later found with sharp object wounds, according to officials.
In response to the violence, an irate mob stopped a truck at Sorok Atingbi Khunou on Saturday night and reportedly set fire to the essential commodities it was carrying. To bolster the security efforts, a contingent of more than 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam.
Additionally, around 239 Meitei people, primarily women and children, were evacuated from peripheral areas of Jiribam on Friday and relocated to a newly established relief camp at a multi-sports complex in the district.
The state government has also made administrative changes in response to the violence. Jiribam SP A. Ghanashyam Sharma has been transferred to the position of additional director at the Manipur Police Training College.
The transfer order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, came hours after the police outposts at Jiri Mukh and Choto Bekra, along with the Goakhal forest beat office, were set on fire on Saturday morning.
Reacting to the latest incidents, the newly elected Congress MP from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, urged the Manipur government to take immediate steps to protect the lives and properties of Jiribam residents.
Jiribam, known for its diverse ethnic composition of Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris, had so far remained unaffected by the ethnic strife that has plagued the northeastern state since May of the previous year.
The ongoing conflict between the Imphal valley-based Meiteis and the hill-based Kukis has resulted in over 200 deaths and left thousands homeless.
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