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The recent encounter between suspected Kuki insurgents and security forces in Manipur's Jiribam has left a trail of devastation and uncertainty. Amidst the gunfire and chaos, three children and three women have gone missing, raising concerns about their safety and well-being. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict in the state, where armed groups continue to operate, challenging the authority of the state and causing widespread fear and displacement.
The Manipur Police, in a press conference, confirmed the deaths of 10 individuals during the encounter. They stated that the militants possessed significant firepower, capable of causing significant disruption in the affected area. The police have launched an operation to locate the missing individuals, deploying the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, and the Central Reserve Police Force. These forces have been instructed to retaliate if fired upon, emphasizing the high-risk nature of the search operation.
Prior to the encounter, 13 internally displaced people were reported missing from Jiribam. While two bodies have been found, five individuals have been traced, leaving six still unaccounted for. The two deceased were identified as senior citizens from the Meitei community. Their bodies were discovered inside a structure that had been set on fire by the militants, indicating the brutal nature of the attack.
The police account of the events points to a deliberate and organized attack by the suspected Kuki militants. They initiated the attack on the Borobekra police station at 2:30 pm, followed by a move towards a CRPF camp located a few hundred meters away. The militants were heavily armed with weapons like rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, INSAS, and AK assault rifles. The CRPF responded with gunfire, engaging in a 45-minute gunfight that ultimately resulted in the deaths of 10 militants. The militants also set fire to several houses in a small settlement between the police station and the CRPF camp.
Civil society groups representing the Kuki tribes have challenged the official narrative, claiming that the 10 individuals killed in the gunfight were “village volunteers” who were unarmed and fired upon without provocation by the CRPF. However, the security forces have presented evidence in the form of visuals of the weapons they claim were recovered from the militants. These weapons include the RPG launcher, AK and INSAS assault rifles, supporting their assertion that the deceased individuals were armed and engaged in combat. The conflicting narratives underscore the deeply entrenched mistrust and animosity between different communities in Manipur, which fuels the ongoing violence and makes finding a lasting solution particularly challenging.