India
Violence in Manipur: 11 suspected militants killed in encounter with CRPF in Jiribam district | India News – Times of India
Representative photo (PTI)
The clash took place at Jakurador Karong in Borobekra subdivision where militants had launched a series of attacks, setting fire to shops and attacking houses and a nearby Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp.
During the exchange of fire, two CRPF personnel sustained injuries, including one in critical condition, officials said. The confrontation then started violently armed militants began their attack, prompting an immediate response from security forces.
Five civilians are still missing after the incident. Authorities are unsure if they were kidnapped by militants or if they are in hiding.
The bodies of the slain militants were transported to Borobekra police station, where investigations are underway to assess the full extent of the attack and locate any missing civilians.
Earlier in the day, armed militants broke out tension in Jiribam by setting fire to several shops in the Borobekra district, a place where clashes have occurred regularly since the outbreak of violence in June. The incident started around 2.30pm when militants opened fire at the Borobekra police station before moving on to the nearby Jakurador Karong area where they engaged in further arson.
Local officials reported a heavy exchange of fire between the militants and security forces, escalating the situation.
Borobekra subdivision, which houses a relief camp on the police station premises, has been a hotspot for violence and multiple gun attacks in recent months.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions following the death of a 31-year-old woman in Zairon Hmar village last week, allegedly by armed miscreants, leaving the district tense.
Earlier, Manipur Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, in an ongoing drive for stability, reiterated the state’s commitment to peace following the eruption of ethnic violence on May 3 last year. The violence started after the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) staged a rally against the demand to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community, leading to clashes in the northeastern state.
Speaking on the 133rd Manipur Police Raising Day, DGP Singh acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the continued efforts of security forces to restore peace. “These are very challenging times,” he said, “but we have tried to address them [the issues] with the best possible force, with the cooperation of security forces and the community.” He noted a decline in violence, deaths and injuries over the past year and a half, despite sporadic incidents of arson and shooting.
In an important step towards dialogue, representatives of the Kuki, Meitei and Naga communities held their first direct talks on October 15. The discussions, facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, brought together MLAs and ministers from the three communities. The leaders made a joint appeal for peace, marking a notable effort by the central government to bridge divisions and promote unity among Manipur’s ethnic groups.
