Amid escalating violence in Manipur, ethnic tensions have surged once again, with multiple attacks reported across the state. Following a brief period of relative calm, a series of brutal killings, including the rape and murder of a Kuki woman in Jiribam and the discovery of three bodies in the Jiri River, have reignited hostilities
By PC Bureau
New Delhi
The bodies of a woman and two children, suspected to be among six individuals reported missing from Manipur’s Jiribam district since Monday, were found floating in the Jiri River on Friday evening. Assam Police confirmed the bodies were recovered and sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
The victims, all from the Meitei community, included three women and three children, one an infant. They had been living in a relief camp at Borobekra police station since violence erupted in the area in June. The missing individuals were identified as Yurembam Rani Devi (60), her daughters Telam Thoibi Devi (31) and Laishram Heitonbi Devi (25), and three grandchildren: Laishram Ching-kheinganba (2), Telam Thajamanbi (8), and Laishram Langamba (8 months).
While formal identification of the recovered bodies is pending, family members believe the descriptions match three of the missing persons. Security forces acted on a tip-off and retrieved the bodies from Jirimukh, where the Jiri River converges with the Barak River.
Fresh Outrage Following Violent Attacks
The alleged abduction of the family by armed militants has fueled anger among Meitei groups in Jiribam and the Central Valley. These groups have accused Hmar militants of abducting the family during an attack on Monday morning.
Reports said suspected Kuki militants attacked the Jiribam Jakuradhor Karong area on November 11, setting homes and shops ablaze. Six people were reportedly abducted during the assault, and two elderly men, identified as Laishram Barel Meetei (63) and Maibam Kesho (61), were burned alive inside their homes. Two others were found injured and taken to Jiribam Hospital for treatment.
In the aftermath, security forces clashed with the militants, resulting in the deaths of 10 attackers. Additional central armed forces have been deployed to the area to strengthen security.
Brutal Killing of Kuki Woman Sparks Renewed Violence
Violence in Manipur reignited following the brutal killing of a 31-year-old Kuki mother of three in Jiribam district. On November 7, armed intruders attacked her home in Zairawn village, allegedly raped her, and burned her alive. An autopsy revealed severe signs of torture, including wounds from nails and burns inflicted while she was still alive.
The killing has triggered further bloodshed, including the murder of a Meitei woman farmer in Bishnupur district two days later and injuries to three others in militant attacks in Imphal East and Bishnupur on November 11.
The woman’s charred remains were examined at Silchar Medical College in Assam. The autopsy revealed 99% burns and graphic injuries, including a metallic nail embedded in her thigh. The state of her body made it impossible to confirm sexual assault through standard tests. Her husband reported to police that she had been raped and killed. That same night, attackers looted and burned 17 houses in the village, allegedly perpetrated by a valley-based group.
Call for Justice and Security
Kuki-Zo organizations have condemned the violence, describing the attacks as “barbaric” and urging swift action against the perpetrators. The Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee of Pherzawl and Jiribam has demanded central intervention to protect tribal communities, while the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum of Churachandpur warned of further unrest if justice is not served promptly.
This surge in violence underscores the fragile peace in Manipur, where ethnic conflict has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people since May. Security forces continue to search for the remaining missing individuals as tensions remain high.
