Manipur witnessed a fresh outbreak of violence as unknown assailants set ablaze a newly constructed school building and several houses in different districts, escalating tensions in the region. This wave of violence follows the recent discovery of a beheaded body, which has reignited unrest, displacing over 1,000 residents to safer areas in Assam and other parts of Jiribam.
On the night of June 12, the newly built Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at T Motha, near the border town of Moreh, was set on fire by unidentified perpetrators. The school, which was yet to be inaugurated, is located in a village predominantly inhabited by the Anāl community, opposite an Assam Rifles post. Villagers blocked all access roads to the school with logs to prevent security forces from intervening. At the same time, the nearby 5th Assam Rifles post remained passive and did not attempt to extinguish the flames.
Moreh, one of Manipur’s largest commercial hubs, has been largely shut down since the eruption of violence on May 3, 2023, from Churachandpur district. The town, situated on the Indo-Myanmar border, has been a hotspot for illegal infiltrators. Reports indicate that armed groups from Myanmar have been residing in various locations around Moreh, including Sahei, Haolenphai, T Minou, Govajang, and B Bongjang.
Simultaneously, Jiribam district experienced a series of arson attacks. On the night of June 12, at approximately 10:30 PM, a shop belonging to a member of the Hmar community and three houses in Kalinagar were set ablaze. The district police responded swiftly, managing to extinguish the fires. However, at around 1:30 AM on June 13, three abandoned houses in the same area were again targeted and set on fire by unknown assailants, though the fires were subsequently controlled.
Armed militants ambushed Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s security convoy along NH-37 (Imphal-Silchar via Jiribam) on June 11. This incident delayed his planned visit to Jiribam to meet with affected residents. Meanwhile, Manipur Cabinet Minister L Susindro reached Jiribam by helicopter on June 12 to assess the situation.
Approximately 600 displaced individuals are taking refuge at a sports complex near Jiribam police station. The district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Krishna Kumar, inspected the relief camps on June 13, distributing essential supplies and ensuring access to necessary resources for the displaced people. Additionally, efforts are underway to resume classes from pre-primary to class VIII at Chingdong Leikai Upper Primary School, Jiribam, starting June 14.
Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic clashes between the Meitei community, which forms the majority in Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo communities, which dominate certain hill districts, since May 2023. The violence has resulted in over 220 fatalities and the displacement of more than 50,000 people.
As the state grapples with renewed violence, the need for peace and reconciliation remains critical.
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