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The recent surge in militant activity in Manipur has resulted in another tragic loss of life. A woman was killed on Saturday when suspected militants opened fire on farmers working in a paddy field in the Saiton area of Bishnupur district. The incident underscores the ongoing insecurity and volatility in the region, highlighting the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining peace and order.
According to police reports, the militants employed sophisticated weapons during the attack. Security forces have been deployed to the area to investigate the incident and apprehend the perpetrators. This incident follows a similar attack earlier in the week, on Thursday, in which suspected extremists targeted Zairon Hmar village in Jiribam district, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
In the Jiribam attack, a mother of three was brutally raped and killed, highlighting the horrific nature of the violence plaguing the region. The incident also saw the burning of at least eight houses, forcing villagers to flee for safety. While the extremists escaped before security personnel arrived, the aftermath of the attack is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of communities living in these areas.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) confirmed the severity of the attack in Jiribam, stating that the gunfire continued for about an hour and that a woman was burnt alive. This tragic incident further highlights the deep-seated tensions and animosities that have fueled the violence in Manipur, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty for residents.
The mixed population of Jiribam district, which shares a border with Assam, has witnessed several incidents of violence this year. The district had remained relatively peaceful last year amid the widespread ethnic violence that engulfed other districts. However, the recent escalation of militant activity suggests a renewed threat to the region's fragile peace.
In an attempt to address the ongoing unrest, the home ministry held a meeting in Delhi on October 15 with representatives of the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities, the three major groups involved in the conflict. The meeting, taking place seventeen months after the eruption of ethnic violence, represents a significant step towards finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The unrest in Manipur stemmed from clashes between the non-tribal Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zos, which erupted on May 3, 2022, following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts. The march was organized to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 230 people, leaving a deep scar on the state's social fabric and underscoring the urgent need for a lasting peace agreement.
Source: Woman killed as militants fire at farmers in Manipur