look news india
Imphal/New Delhi/Guwahati (National Desk): The hopes of returning peace in the sensitive state of Manipur in North-East India have once again suffered a severe blow. Manipur Tension, which has been burning in the fire of ethnic conflict for a long time, has suddenly reached its peak again after a few days of silence. The border and sensitive areas of the state, especially Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Bishnupur and the districts adjoining the Imphal Valley, have once again witnessed a wave of violence and arson. According to the latest and frightening news coming from the ground level, within the last 36 hours, armed miscreants and miscreants have set about 28 houses on fire in different areas by pouring petrol and inflammable substances. Due to the black smoke rising in the sky and the sound of bullets, panic has once again spread among the local villagers and people are forced to run towards relief camps to save their lives. Meanwhile, Manipur Police has issued a statement saying that strict security measures have been taken to bring the situation under control and additional forces have been deployed.
According to ground reports from Manipur, this latest wave of violence started when some unidentified armed militants targeted villages located near the sensitive buffer zone in the late night and early morning. According to eyewitnesses and the local administration, in the last 36 hours the miscreants carried out one attack after another and torched a total of 28 houses and some shops. Many of these houses were those that had been vacated by the villagers after the earlier violence, while some houses were occupied by people who saved their lives by running into the forests and security camps in time. Along with arson, several rounds of heavy firing also took place between armed groups from both sides. Fire brigade vehicles also faced great difficulty in reaching the spot as the miscreants had set up roadblocks. Within no time, the lifetime earnings of 28 families and their homes were turned into piles of ashes.
After the continuous incidents of arson and violence, Manipur Police and security agencies have come on full alert mode. In the official statement issued by Manipur Police Headquarters, it has been said that all strict security measures have been taken to restore law and order in the affected areas. Senior police officials said that joint teams of Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), BSF and state police commandos have been immediately dispatched to the area where 28 houses have been burnt. Security forces have cordoned off the entire area and a large-scale ‘search and combing operation’ is being conducted to arrest the militants hiding in the hills and forests. Apart from this, sensitive areas are also being monitored through drones and helicopters so that any action of miscreants can be foiled immediately.
It is noteworthy that the caste conflict that started in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023 has not been completely calmed till date. Hundreds of people have lost their lives so far in this long struggle and more than 50,000 people are rendered homeless and forced to live in relief camps in their own state. In recent months, incidents of violence have increased rapidly in Jiribam (a district bordering Assam) and other border areas. Security experts believe that fundamentalists and armed groups on both sides do not want to allow peace to be restored. Sophisticated weapons looted from police armories and infiltration from across the border remain the biggest challenges for the security forces. Whenever there is an attempt by the Center and the State to hold peace talks or to restore normalcy, the miscreants rekindle the atmosphere by carrying out such arson and attacks.
As a precautionary measure after the latest violence and burning of 28 houses, the administration has again tightened curfew restrictions in the affected districts and the gathering of four or more people together at sensitive places has been banned. Cyber cell has also been activated to stop conspiracies to spoil the atmosphere by spreading inflammatory videos and fake news through social media. Manipur Police has appealed to the common citizens to maintain peace and not pay heed to any kind of rumours. It has also been warned that strictest legal action will be taken against any person or group who tries to take the law into their own hands or commit arson. At present, there is a very tense peace in the entire area and Central Security Forces personnel are ready at every nook and corner.