In anticipation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s visit to the violence-stricken Jiribam district later on Monday, an advance security team was ambushed by suspected insurgents.
The incident occurred near Kotlen village along National Highway-53, with multiple gunshots fired at the security forces’ vehicles. The forces retaliated, and the shootout is ongoing, according to police reports. At least two security personnel have been injured in the attack.
This ambush happens amidst a backdrop of heightened violence in the region. The unrest escalated on June 6 following the discovery of the body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh, a 59-year-old Meitei farmer who had been missing for weeks.
The discovery of Singh’s body sparked outrage among residents, leading to urgent calls for enhanced security measures and the right to arm themselves for protection.
The violence has rapidly worsened, affecting neighboring Assam as well. Approximately 600 individuals from various ethnic backgrounds have sought refuge in Lakhipur, Cachar district, fleeing the turmoil in their homeland.
Also Read: Shocking videos, photos of houses burning in Manipur’s Jiribam district surface online
Jiribam, located 220 km from the Manipur capital of Imphal, serves as a strategic gateway bordering Assam and is traversed by the crucial National Highway-37. Its importance is heightened by the presence of numerous Kuki villages in the surrounding hills.
The violence in Jiribam
An officer stationed at a police outpost in Borobekra within the Jiribam subdivision recounted the harrowing moments when insurgents attacked. “They came in boats and attacked the outposts in the dark,” the officer revealed, choosing to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
Police sources report that the insurgents extended their rampage to several villages along the river, leaving a trail of destruction. Visual evidence supports these accounts, showing militants setting homes ablaze and celebrating their actions.
The attack occurred just hours after the administration of Jiribam district, which borders Assam’s Cachar district, implemented a prohibitory order starting Thursday night to prevent any further escalation of violence.
Tensions in the district had already been heightened following the tragic death of 59-year-old Soibam Saratkumar Singh. His lifeless body, bearing wounds inflicted by a sharp object, was recently discovered, sparking outrage and fear among the local population.
