Angomcha Bimol Akoijam : "Manipur Violence: 70 Homes Burned in Jiribam, Top Cop Transferred"

1. Violence erupts in Jiribam as homes and police outposts set on fire
2. Manipur violence leads to transfer of top cop in Jiribam.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Authorities in Manipur were forced to take decisive action on Saturday as suspected militants set fire to two police outposts, a forest office, and at least 70 houses in the riot-hit region. The escalating tensions led to the suspension of the Superintendent of Police in Jiribam district, where the unrest took place.

In response to the violence, a contingent of over 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam to support security personnel in their operations against the militants. Additionally, around 239 Meitei people, predominantly women and children, were evacuated from peripheral areas of Jiribam and relocated to a newly established relief camp at a multi-sports complex in the district.

According to a senior officer, the suspected militants targeted villages such as Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra, where they set fire to more than 70 houses. The affected villagers were forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the relief camp.

The transfer of the Jiribam SP, A Ghanashyam Sharma, was swiftly implemented following the destruction of the police outposts and forest office. The BJP-led Manipur government reassigned Sharma to the position of Additional Director of the Manipur Police Training College, with M Pradip Singh taking over as the Senior Superintendent of Police in Jiribam district.

Reacting to the fresh wave of violence, newly elected Congress MP for Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, called on the state government to prioritise the protection of lives and properties in Jiribam district. Akoijam highlighted the disparity in security provisions between the town and peripheral areas, urging authorities to address the situation promptly.

The unrest in Jiribam was sparked by the killing of a 59-year-old man, Soibam Saratkumar Singh, who went missing after visiting his farm on June 6. His body, bearing wounds from a sharp object, was discovered later, prompting locals to set abandoned structures on fire and demand the return of confiscated firearms.

Jiribam, a diverse area hosting Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris, had previously remained unaffected by the ethnic conflicts that have plagued Manipur. The ongoing strife between Imphal valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kukis has resulted in over 200 deaths and displaced thousands.