Imphal

Armed militants attacked the Hmar tribal village of Zairon in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Thursday night, burning at least eight houses, according to police. Villagers, including women, children, and the elderly, managed to escape to safety during the sudden assault. Security forces quickly arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, though the attackers had already fled.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) reported that gunfire lasted for about an hour, and a woman named Sangkim, the wife of Ngurthansang Hmar, was reportedly burned alive as her house was engulfed in flames. ITLF sources claimed her remains were later dismembered by the militants.

In addition, two abandoned farmhouses in the Nungkhal area of the district were set on fire by suspected militants. Jiribam, which has a mixed population, has seen sporadic violence this year, despite relative peace compared to other districts affected by ethnic unrest since May 2023. The Ministry of Home Affairs recently held a meeting to address the ongoing conflict between the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities, seeking a path to resolution.