In a gun battle in Jiribam district of Manipur 10 suspected Kuki-Zo militants were killed by the security forces after they attacked the Borobekra police station and later the Jakuradhor CRPF post. The event which happened around 3 in the afternoon actually consisted of very serious shooting for approximately 40-45min. Security forces including CRPF and Police acted against the assault and recovered weapons including AK series rifle, self loading rifle, RPG among others and other military equipments.
The CRPF constable Sanjeev Kumar was injured and later shifted to Silchar Medical College in Assam. Additional forces of Assam Rifles, CRPF and local police were mobilized and district administration declared curfew to avoid more worst situation.
The incident occurred as ethnic tensions increase – especially after an arson attack on November 7 that burned houses in Kuki-Zo area. Kuki-Zo council exposed 11 of its volunteers’ deaths and appealed for a total cease as a form of mourning. The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) said that the confrontation took place because of reports that Meitei militants including the Arambai Tenggol had fled to Jiribam police station after previous cases of sabotage. COTU said that he was surprised by the CRPF’s action since the Kuki-Zo does not interact with the central forces.
It has also extended to other parts of the state and raised the level of cross firing in districts such as Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur. Farmers plucking the fruits and vegetables in the valley regions where they are most exposed during harvest times were affected, and several such incidents caused casualties, resulting in the death of a Meitei woman farmer, the left hand of an army jawan, and left eye of a Tangkhul farmer.
The student groups demanded that authorities close the roads to protest against the violence and demand justice.
