Violence broke out in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Friday, just a day after an agreement was reached to restore normalcy between the Meitei and Hmar communities. Armed men set fire to an abandoned house in Lalpani village and fired multiple gunshots, heightening tensions in the region, PTI reported, citing officials on Saturday.
The attack occurred late Friday night. The targeted house was part of a small settlement of Meitei residences, many of which had been vacated following previous violence. Officials noted that the area was poorly protected, allowing the attackers to exploit the security lapses.
Security forces were deployed to the scene in response to the violence, officials added.
The agreement to restore calm was reached on Thursday during a meeting at a CRPF facility in Assam’s Cachar district. The meeting, moderated by the Jiribam district administration along with Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel, included representatives from the Meitei and Hmar communities, as well as the Thadou, Paite, and Mizo communities.
The joint statement issued after the meeting stated that both sides committed to efforts to prevent further violence and cooperate fully with security forces. The next meeting to review the situation is scheduled for August 15.
“The meeting resolved that both sides will make full efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of arson and firing. Both sides shall give full cooperation to all the security forces operating in the Jiribam district. Both sides agreed to facilitate controlled and coordinated movement,” a joint statement issued and signed by representatives of all the participating communities said.
Since May of the previous year, ethnic violence between the Meiteis of the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups from the adjoining hills has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands. Jiribam, previously unaffected, saw violence erupt in June after a mutilated body was discovered, leading to further unrest and the displacement of many residents. In July, a CRPF jawan was killed in an ambush by militants.