Imphal
On Tuesday, authorities in Manipur discovered the charred bodies of two elderly men, Laishram Balen and Maibam Kesho, from the debris of a house set on fire in Jiribam district. The district remains tense but under control, following an encounter the previous day in which 11 suspected Kuki militants were killed by the CRPF.
The two men, members of the Meitei community, were found during a search operation for five missing persons. These individuals had been unaccounted for since a violent incident on Monday when several homes and shops in Jakuradhor Karong were also torched by suspected Kuki militants.
Meanwhile, fresh firing incidents were reported in Imphal East and Bishnupur districts on Tuesday. However, there have been no reports of casualties. In response, security forces have increased patrols in sensitive and mixed-population areas of Jiribam and other districts, while the district administration imposed an indefinite curfew to prevent further violence.
In protest of the killings of 11 Kuki-Zo volunteers by CRPF personnel, the Kuki-Zo Council called for a 13-hour shutdown on Tuesday, affecting life in several tribal-dominated areas. This shutdown, observed in solidarity with the victims, intensified local tensions.
The ongoing violence in Manipur has led to widespread unrest, with civilians, including two women, having been killed in recent weeks due to armed attacks. Security forces continue their operations to arrest militants and search for missing persons amidst the growing crisis.
