Eleven suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Monday, officials reported. The exchange of fire, which occurred at Jakurador Karong in the Borobekra sub-division, also left two CRPF personnel injured, with one in critical condition.
The violence began around 2:30 pm when militants dressed in camouflage and armed with sophisticated weapons launched an indiscriminate attack on the Borobekra police station and an adjacent CRPF camp. Some militants then broke away, heading to the nearby Jakurador Karong market, where they set several shops ablaze and attacked homes, according to officials.
Security forces retaliated, leading to a gun battle that lasted over an hour. During the intense exchange, 11 suspected militants were killed. The bodies were later brought to the Borobekra police station.
Adding to the crisis, five people living in a relief camp located within the police station premises went missing during the incident. Authorities are uncertain whether these civilians were abducted by the militants or fled to safety and are currently searching for them.
Following the attack, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS were enforced in the area. The notification cited fears of disturbances to peace and public safety due to “unlawful activities of some anti-social elements,” prohibiting the assembly of five or more people.
Borobekra sub-division has experienced multiple violent incidents since June, making it one of the most affected areas in the district. Just last week, a 31-year-old woman was killed in an attack by armed militants on Zairon Hmar village, where six houses were burned down.
The region has been engulfed in ethnic violence since May last year, with clashes between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the hill-based Kuki-Zo communities claiming more than 200 lives and displacing thousands. Jiribam, once a relatively peaceful area, saw unrest this June after the discovery of a mutilated farmer’s body, leading to widespread arson and displacement. In July, a CRPF jawan was killed in an ambush by militants during a patrol.