Just 24 hours after an agreement was reached to restore normalcy, fresh violence erupted in Jiribam, Manipur. The latest incident, reported on Saturday, involved gunfire and arson, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.
An abandoned house in Lalpani village was set on fire by armed assailants late on Friday. This village, predominantly inhabited by Meiteis, had seen many residents leave following previous violence. The attackers exploited gaps in security to carry out the arson and also fired several rounds targeting the village, according to officials.
The recent outbreak of violence comes despite a recent agreement between the Meitei and Hmar communities. This agreement, made during a meeting at a CRPF facility in Assam’s Cachar on Thursday, was aimed at restoring peace in the district. The meeting was facilitated by the Jiribam district administration, along with Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel, and included representatives from the Thadou, Paite, and Mizo communities.
The agreement called for full cooperation with security forces and a commitment from both sides to work towards normalcy, preventing further incidents of arson and firing. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for August 15.
The violence in Manipur has been severe, with over 200 fatalities and thousands displaced since May of last year. Jiribam, a region previously unaffected by the ethnic clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, saw unrest after a farmer’s mutilated body was discovered in June. The resulting violence led to widespread displacement and damage, including the death of a CRPF jawan in an ambush by militants in mid-July.
